FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 26, 2024
Time Requested: 06:31 PM |
| Agency: |
Supreme Court of Appeals |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 3279 |
Introduced |
HB5254 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Health |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
General
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Increases Existing Expenses, Decreases Existing Expenses
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Regionalizing the state’s mental hygiene system will reduce the total number of mental hygiene commissioners from approximately 66 part-time commissioners to approximately 21 full-time commissioners. Primarily, the increased cost are personal services for the new employees. The main cost savings are an elimination of hourly reimbursements to commissioners, plus a reduction in overall technology and training due to the amount per-person reduction from 66 units to 21 units.
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 |
535,000 |
1,372,336 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
455,000 |
1,379,644 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
80,000 |
-7,308 |
| 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):
At an average salary of $87,500, plus benefits, nineteen new full-time commissioners results in a gross personal services increase of $2,161,250. Eliminating sixty-six part time commissioners reduces those payments by $1,040,306 and brings the net increase to $1,120,945. We estimate $11,400 in training, $132,392 in travel, $66,500 in office space, all as annual costs. We estimate initial technology and furniture purchases of $95,000 and $190,000 respectively to decrease after startup. Finally, the logistical and administrative requirements on the Administrative Office will increase, resulting in the need for three new FTEs at a cost of $258,700. At full implementation approximately 2-3 years in the future, the total net increase in annual cost is estimated to be around $1,372,336.
Memorandum
It is difficult to anticipate a timeline for such a significant shift in operations. We project full implementation continuing into FY27, however that would be subject to acceleration or delay depending on lessons learned from a pilot-period. If all costs were incurred in a single year, the total first year cost would be around $1,637,337. However, because the startup costs will be phased in over 2-3 years, the full-startup cost will not be added in a single fiscal year.
Further, this note only addresses increased cost and savings on the Court. Other parts of state and local government may see a fiscal impact whether by cost savings or cost increases. The Supreme Court cannot calculate those figures.
Finally, as drafted, the bill is designed to speed up the efficiency of the mental hygiene process, especially during the probable cause phase. A more efficient system could result in several cost savings throughout the system that are difficult for the Court to quantify at this time.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Keith Hoover
Email Address: keith.hoover@courtswv.gov