FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
0453
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 current cost of the program for expendables only is approximately $86,000 per year based upon 2006/2007 average number of samples. This cost, except for postage, is being paid using federal funds by Marshall University Forensic Science Center. The cost estimates provided are based upon an estimated 20,000 felony arrests/year using 2006 statistics. If Marshall University cannot continue with the support or if federal funds are no longer available, then additional assets and personnel will need to be added to handle the program. The 2008 estimates are based on collecting only for violent felony offenses first and a year later expand to all felony offenses. It is recommended that implementation be delayed until 2009 if possible to develop training modules and other support components.
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 |
353,244 |
799,122 |
1,002,366 |
| Personal Services |
59,000 |
29,500 |
88,500 |
| Current Expenses |
115,000 |
755,000 |
870,000 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
150,000 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
29,244 |
14,622 |
43,866 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Personal Services is based upon hiring additional Forensic Analysts I at $29,500 per year. Current Expenses include DNA kits, postage and maintenance costs. First year asset costs include a genetic analyzer.
Memorandum
The number of arrestee samples is a very rough estimate generated by using 2006 uniform crime report statistics for total arrests and State Police arrests for 31 offensive groups. This ratio generated from these values was applied to the total number of State Police felony arrests in West Virginia. Two correction factors were applied to this value: (1) each individual was assumed to have two felony arrests for the year and (2) the average number of convicted felons collected between 2006 and 2008 was subtracted from the total. If the number of arrests per individual per year is higher or repeat offenders is high after the initial peak collection, subsequent yearly numbers could be lower.
Technical questions related to this response should be addressed to F/Lt. Brent Myers, WV State Police Forensic Lab, 746-2439.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Ron Twohig
Email Address: rtwohig@wvsp.state.wv.us