FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

0403 - Div of Human Services General Administrative Fund

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.


The purpose of this bill is to authorize a responsible parent pilot project by the Department of Health and Human Resources in conjunction with the Division of Corrections. The Department of Health and Human Resource's Bureau for Children and Families (WVDHHR/BCF) currently provides the services listed in the proposed bill. The funding for the current program is approximately $875,000 for FY2012, with the source of funds consisting of federal funds through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. It may be possible to partner with the West Virginia Division of Corrections (WV DOC) to expand this program to other designated sites as identified in the proposed legislation provided additional funding were made available. It would be incumbent upon the WV DOC to provide a proposed Budget and Program information to help determine the cost of a combined pilot between the two agencies. WVDHHR/BCF currently with its’ Healthy Family/Health Children (HF/HC) Initiative is providing this type of service in three of the proposed counties (Cabell, Kanawha and Woods).



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2012
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2013
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 800,000 800,000
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 800,000 800,000
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):






Memorandum


"In 2006, the WVDHHR/BCF began a partnership with the West Virginia University Extension Services through funding received from the Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Children and Families to help West Virginia Families improve family relationships in an effort to help children, parents and the state as a whole. This upstart program is called West Virginia’s HEALTHY FAMILIES/HEALTHY CHILDREN Initiative Program (HF/HC). The purpose of the program is to help West Virginia’s children and families to become more secure, strengthen family relationships and teach financial responsibilities to help improve the lives of West Virginia families participating in the program. During 2010, we added the State’s other Land-Grant school, West Virginia State University Extension Services, to the program. " As of 2012, there are twenty-two (22) sites set up around the state to teach the “state of the art” skills developed to help families learn not only how to be better parents, but also how to gain personal enrichment through improving their overall family relationships. A similar program already exists in a few counties of the state for fathers who are not in prison and it is operated by the Kanawha Institute for Social Research (KISRA). The Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) has entered into a cooperative agreement with KISRA to refer fathers to the program in the appropriate counties who are behind on their support obligations. BCSE could, without the need for legislation, enter into an agreement with KISRA to extend this program into the Division of Corrections with the Division’s approval. However, KISRA estimates the cost of extending the program would be approximately $800,000 per year for salaries, curricula and supplies, travel expenses, and office space. This cannot be absorbed by DHHR within current funding levels.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Michael J. Lewis, M.D., Ph.D.
    Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice@wv.gov