FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

0407 - Central Office General Administrative Fund

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

A New Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The purpose of the bill is to create an Office for Oral Health under the Bureau for Public Health and to authorize a full-time director. The proposed legislation requires the Office for Oral Health to employ a full time director. The bill establishes an advisory board to advise the director in the development of a comprehensive plan with designated benchmarks and responsible parties to improve the oral health of citizens in the state. The Office for Oral Health will design oral health programs that assure children entering kindergarten, grade two and grade six have an oral health exam and appropriate preventive programs including recommendations for potential funding sources. The Office will design a training program for pediatricians, primary care providers and their staff in certain preventive oral health procedures. The Department estimates the costs to be an additional $159,076 in year one and $144,176 each year thereafter. This estimate includes only the design of prevention programs and training programs required as a result of this legislation.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2011
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 159,076 144,176
Personal Services 0 122,952 122,952
Current Expenses 0 16,124 11,224
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 20,000 10,000
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


Personal services include the addition of a full time Director ($53,280), a Dental Hygienist ($28,776) to assist in the implementation of the educational program, and associated fringe benefits ($40,896). The estimated salary for these positions was based upon the current average salary for the Department. Currently, OMCFH employs a part time dentist for $53,000; therefore, there would be no additional cost for the dental consultant. With input from the Advisory Board, the current and additional staff will be used to design the programs to address school children at specific times having oral exams and appropriate preventive programs. The design of appropriate training programs for use by non-dental health professionals in non-traditional settings will also be done by current and proposed staff with input from the Advisory Board. An additional $20,000 is estimated to be used to contract with consultants with expertise in design and development of different educational models ( web based modules, face to face modules, printed training materials, curriculum etc.). Costs to update training for subsequent years are estimated to be $10,000 . These estimates are based on experience in developing other training programs. Current expense details include increases in rent and utilities ($6,324), phones ($1,200), office supplies and misc expenses ($500), and in-state and out-of-state travel ($3,200) for the new staff. In addition, there is a one time expense for computers and printer ($4,900).



Memorandum


Currently the Oral Health Program within the Bureau for Public Health, Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health is funded with approximately $143,067 of MCH Title V Block Grant Funds and $375,296 of general revenue funds (0407-575 $194,675, 0407-550 $150,921, and 0407-099 $29,700) for a total budget of $518,363. The MCH Title V Block Grant can only be used for children's programs and cannot be used for direct services. This budget includes current staff of 2.49 full time equivalents (Office Assistant III, Health and Human Resources Specialist, Senior, and a part-time dental director) and current expenses for daily program administration and operations. One additional staff will be required to facilitate the responsibilities outlined in this bill. It is assumed that DHHR will only design the training programs, not implement. If DHHR were to implement the training, it is estimated to cost an additional $121,588 per year. The financial effect of this proposal only shows the impact of the current changes to the bill. Possible technical flaws: §16-41-4(d) states that "Money deposited in this fund shall be used exclusively to provide oral health services," which could limit the use of funds transferred into the fund or which could exclude the use of funds transferred into the fund for purposes other than oral health services. §16-41-3(a) 8, 9,10 indicate provision of services. The language in 16-41-4(d) could exclude the use of these funds for staffing and administrative costs as outlined in other sections.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Patsy A. Hardy
    Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice.gov