Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund

Fiscal Note Summary

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

The purpose of this bill is to add fifty new positions to the staff at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital. The Department of Health and Human Resources estimates the fiscal impact to the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities (BHHF) to be an increase in personal services expenditures of $2,568,979. These expenditures will be from general revenue dollars. The proposed legislation states that upon passage of the article, the DHHR will review staffing needs at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital and then determine where fifty (50) additional positions will best serve the needs of both the patients and employees and that all fifty (50) positions shall be filled no later than ninety days after the passage of the article. As of March 30th, William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital had thirty (30) vacant positions. The BBHHF, based on information provided by William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital staff, allocated the additional 50 positions between the various classifications as outlined in the fiscal note estimate explanation section. The salary estimate was based on the average salary paid for each classification at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital.

Fiscal Note Detail

Effect of Proposal	Fiscal Year
Effect of Proposal	2013 Increase/Decrease (use"-")	2014 Increase/Decrease (use"-")	Fiscal Year (Upon Full Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost	0	2,568,979	2,568,979
Personal Services	0	2,568,979	2,568,979
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):

The total cost to the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities of $2,568,979 is based upon the following hiring breakdown based on projected needs: 21 Health Service Assistant 2 Positions at $24,312, 6 LPN Positions at $31,512, 2 RN 1 Positions at $34,248, ,4 RN 2 Positions at $42,480, 12 RN 3 Positions at $50,016, 3 Guard 1 Positions at $20,256 and 2 Social Worker 3 Positions at $34,752, for a total of the 50 positions. The total dollar amount is a summary of the salaries for 50 FTEs at $1,668,504 and benefits at $900,475. Benefits were calculated as follows: admin. fees, OPEB and health insurance at $9,994 per FTE and FICA, retirement, and workers' compensation at 24.02% of personal services.

Memorandum

While we understand the intent of this bill, we feel the cause for Sharpe being "woefully understaffed" is not necessarily due to lack of positions but actually due to the inability to fill their current vacancies.

Person submitting Fiscal Note: Rocco S. Fucillo
Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice@wv.gov