FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
0407 - Central Office General Administrative Fund, 0403 - Div of Human Services General Administration Fund, 8722 - Cons Federal Funds Div Human Services Gen Admn Fund
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund,Other Fund Federal
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 provide medical and nonmedical exemptions from mandatory immunizations for school children. The bill would require parents and guardians to assert their conscientious or religious beliefs in an affidavit, Parents or guardians seeking an exemption for a child would be required to present an affidavit affirming that they have completed and understood an educational course approved by the Commissioner of Public Health regarding the risks and benefits of immunizations, to be provided by the Bureau for Public Health, before the exemption could apply. Further, the bill would remove students who are not immunized from school in times of emergency or epidemics. The bill provides that the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health may by rule add or delete diseases for which vaccines are required for school attendance and to reconstitute the Immunization Advisory Committee.
Currently children must be immunized against diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis-b, hemophilus influenza-b and whooping cough. This bill requires the addition of the chicken pox vaccination. The Department estimates the fiscal impact to add this vaccine would be $271,678 ($46,700 federal) for the first year and $73,228 ($46,700 federal) thereafter.
The Department's Bureau for Public Health (BPH) would incur costs of $208,450 for the first year and $10,000 thereafter. Initial costs will be incurred with: (1) production of videos, which will have to be contracted with a public relations/advertising firm containing subject matter for both medical and non-medical exemptions; (2) regional training costs for 55 local health officers, including conference facility costs and travel expenses; (3) approximately 22,000 VIS (Vaccine Information Statements) copies; and (4) WVSIIS (West Virginia Statewide Immunization Information System) Registry Enhancement costs.
The Department's Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) would incur costs of $63,228 ($46,700 federal) for the administrative fee paid for the vaccine. The vaccines are currently covered through federal funding provided to the Vaccines for Children program so no additional funding is estimated for the purchase of the vaccine.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2008
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
271,678 |
73,228 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
208,450 |
10,000 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
63,228 |
63,228 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
First year costs include: Current Expense: cost of videos - $155,000; regional training - $12,200; vaccine information statement (VIS) copies - $1,250; WVSIIS registry enhancement - $40,000.
Other: Administration fee for chicken pox vaccine calculated by the number of eligible children who are between ages 1 and 5 and who were in the fee for service program at December 31, 2007 multiplied by the administration fee paid for each vaccine. (5,269 x $12.00 = $63,228)
Subsequent year costs include: Current Expense: training expenses - $10,000. Other: Administration fee for vaccine of $63,228.
At some point in time, the video tapes would have to be re-done. However, the original videos would be expected to be applicable for a minimum of four years.
Memorandum
Although the authority exists for a nominal charge to be made for the educational course, it is difficult to estimate a revenue amount. There is currently no special revenue fund for the Immunization Program to place such receipts if charges were to be imposed/collected.
Currently the Department also receives a federal immunization grant, however, the Department does not currently utilize the grant funding for educational activities.
The responsibilities of the local public health officer in this legislation will create costs to the local health departments. The Department has not included any potential cost to the local health departments in this fiscal note.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Martha Yeager Walker
Email Address: fnbudoff@wvdhhr.org