FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
0589,4295
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund,Special Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
HB 2517, if enacted, would permit volunteer firefighters performing as members of volunteer fire departments to automatically qualify for PROMISE scholarships and waive all other scholarship program requirements. It is estimated that the initial annual cost would be about $5,354,000 per year. Upon full implementation, the annual cost would be about $13,048,000. The estimated cost would increase if volunteer firefighters from other states would apply for the
scholarship and if the number of volunteer firefighters would increase.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2013
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2014
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
5,354,000 |
13,048,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
5,354,000 |
13,048,000 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
According to the West Virginia State Fire Marshall’s Office, the number of West Virginia volunteer firefighters is about
11,000. It is estimated that about 17.3 percent of volunteer firefighters already have bachelor’s degrees, assuming that this percentage approximates that of the West Virginia Population. Of the estimated 82.7 percent of firefighters that do not have a bachelor’s degree, it is estimated that about 12.87 percent would attend college. This estimate assumes that the rate of college attendance for the general population would approximate the rate for the general population. It is expected that this rate would double in the second year as more firefighters learn about and take advantage of the opportunity, and then decline by half in the next two years as the population of those not already participating declines.
Memorandum
According to the West Virginia State Fire Marshall’s Office, the number of West Virginia volunteer firefighters is about
11,000. It is estimated that about 17.3 percent of volunteer firefighters already have bachelor’s degrees, assuming that this percentage approximates that of the West Virginia Population. Of the estimated 82.7 percent of firefighters that do not have a bachelor’s degree, it is estimated that about 12.87 percent would attend college. This estimate assumes that the rate of college attendance for the general population would approximate the rate for the general population. It is expected that this rate would double in the second year as more firefighters learn about and take advantage of the opportunity, and then decline by half in the next two years as the population of those not already participating declines.
The proportions of firefighters attending two- and four-year institutions are assumed to be similar to the overall
PROMISE population and the PROMISE award amount of $4,750 (or tuition and fees if this is lesser) will remain
constant. In addition, it is also expected that volunteer firefighters would have to meet the same scholarship renewal
criteria as regular PROMISE scholars and therefore would be retained in the program in similar rates after the first year.
The estimated total recipients in year one is 1,148 and the estimated recipients upon full implementation is 2,913.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Ed Magee
Email Address: emagee@hepc.wvnet.edu