FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 17, 2024
Time Requested: 02:14 PM |
| Agency: |
Legislative Services - Joint Committee |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1838 |
Introduced |
HB4844 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Legislature |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
General
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Creates New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
HB 4844 would require the Legislative Manager to establish a program for the random drug testing of legislators for illegal drugs to be conducted during each regular session. The program would require the Legislative Manager to create and implement the following procedures in conjunction with that program:
(1) Procedures for random testing of each Legislator;
(2) Procedures for ensuring that no legislator is tested more than twice per session, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section;
(2) Procedures for administering the tests; and
(3) Other provisions reasonably convenient for the efficient operation of the program.
Further, the bill states:
(c) The Legislative Manager is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of all drug test results administered as part of the program, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
The provisions of the bill for creating procedures for a random drug testing program for members would not incur any additional expenses to the state. These procedures can be created and implemented using existing staff of the Legislative Manager and can also be carried out using existing staff, including the responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of these tests through existing measures already used to protect the personally identifiable information (PII) for personnel records within the Legislative Manager’s existing processes or through modification of those processes.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2025
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):
The Legislative Manager would not incur any increase in expenses for carrying out the provisions of this bill to create and implement the procedures required and to incorporate the results of those drug tests into the secure storage of other sensitive employee information and PII already maintained within the Legislative Manager's existing functions. These functions can be achieved with existing resources already available.
Memorandum
The language of this bill for creating a program for the random drug testing of legislators does not provide specifics on the actual testing and how that will be performed. A prior bill introduced concerning drug testing for legislators specified that the cost of the drug tests would be incurred by the legislators. If the program in this bill would differ and require the cost for the tests to be paid for by the Legislature and not the individual members, a cost would be incurred for each drug test administered that is not yet defined. Research indicates that costs for drug screenings in West Virginia can cost from $50 up to $500 per test depending on the substances specified for testing. Prior bills related to this topic specified all illegal drugs, as well as prescription drugs that may not be prescribed to an individual. The cost of the test increases with the number of substances that are being screened for in the test.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Justin Robinson
Email Address: justin.robinson@wvlegislature.gov