FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Fiscal Note $0
Summary of Bill. House Bill 3257, if approved, would authorize the State of West Virginia to make loans to students in accredited programs for nursing, dental hygiene, social work, and dentistry, and to award loan forgiveness to these students if they practice in a medically underserved area or in a specialty that has a shortage. Students who do not meet the forgiveness criteria would repay their loans.
Fiscal Note. Because the Legislature could place as much funding as it wants into this program, the following scenarios illustrate how many awards could be made at various funding levels.
Average Number Total
Amount of Program
Loaned Awards Funding
Eligible Students $2,500 100 $250,000
Eligible Students $2,500 200 $500,000
Eligible Students $2,500 300 $750,000
Eligible Students $2,500 400 $1,000,000
In subsequent years, some costs would be met from loan repayments.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Eligible Students. West Virginia has 20 accredited nursing programs that graduate students who are eligible for licensure as registered nurses (RNs). Approximately 3,300 RN students were enrolled in fall 2008. The state has 23 accredited programs for students training to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Approximately 500 LPN students graduated in FY 2008. The state has one accredited dental school, with 198 students enrolled in fall 2008. The state has one accredited graduate social work school, with 264 students enrolled in fall 2008. The state has three accredited dental hygiene programs (one baccalaureate and two associate’s degree), with a combined total of 140 students in fall 2008. In total, there are approximately 4,400 students in West Virginia in these qualifying disciplines.
Availability of Financial Aid. Nursing and dental hygiene students generally are eligible for financial aid that is available. RN and dental hygiene students are eligible for the Higher Education Grant (up to $3,200), and LPN students are eligible for the HEAPS Grant Program’s workforce component (estimated average award of $2,000). Graduate social work students are eligible for institutional aid, federal grants and loans, tuition stipends, and graduate assistantships. Dental students are eligible for institutional aid and federal grants and loans.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Terry Hess
Email Address: hess@hepc.wvnet.edu