FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):



Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

A New Program



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The costs associated with establishing the West Virginia Global Warming Impact Assessment Commission do not appear to be onerous, but neither may they be deemed insubstantial, as the Commission would be charged with conducting a study and preparing a report following a series of state-wide hearings. There would be administrative and organizational costs attributable to the hearings, travel and per diem expenses incurred by Commission members, professional fees if scientific or other expert services are required (although it is not clear whether the Commission would be empowered to authorize such services in aid of its study), and the costs of physically preparing and assembling the report. The bill provides for reassignment of legislative staff to lend support, but one can only surmise whether all the Commission's support requirements could be fulfilled in such a manner, or whether reassignment would necessitate hiring additional staff to fulfill legislative responsibilities. There is no provision in the bill whereby revenues may be raised to defray the expected costs.



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 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 Commission would be required to issue its report no later than January 1, 2009, at which point it would presumably disband and incur no further expenses.



Memorandum


Although the Estimated Total Cost for the 2008 fiscal year, together with its Personal Services and Current Expense components, is unknown, zeroes have been supplied to satisfy the field requirement that an integer be entered. As described in the Summary, there will obviously be some cost involved, but that cost is beyond our ability to calculate.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Raymond S. Franks II, General Counsel, DEP
    Email Address: rfranks@wvdep.org