FISCAL NOTE
FUND(S):
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
A New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The proposed legislation, creating a volunteer litter reporting program, would impose costs upon the Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Natural Resouces, and, potentially, the Division of Highways. DEP would be responsible for promoting the program; DNR would be charged with coordinating with the various county sheriffs and county commissions to implement the program and train the volunteers; and DOH would have the option to acquire and emplace appropriate road signage designating the areas patrolled. There is no provision in the proposed legislation for generating revenues to offset the above costs.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
567,200 |
36,000 |
36,000 |
| Personal Services |
33,000 |
33,000 |
33,000 |
| Current Expenses |
534,200 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
| 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 above estimates include $531,200 to be spent by DEP during the first year to promote the program and approximately $36,000 in annual costs for DNR to coordinate and maintain it. The promotional expenses include the costs of printing and distributing brochures, producing and airing television and radio commercials state-wide, and purchasing advertising in newspapers throughout the state. The coordination and maintenance costs assume ongoing training programs in all 55 counties to be conducted in approximately three-hour sessions on a quarterly basis, with attendant mileage fees and a small allowance for additional paperwork required. Additional expenses, not accounted for here, could be incurred should DNR employees be required to testify in criminal proceedings with respect to the training process generally and investigation procedures in individual cases. Because the proposed legislation does not mandate that DOH acquire and emplace road signage, no estimate of those optional costs has been obtained.
Memorandum
Costs could be reduced if the proposed legislation were more specific as to DEP's obligation to promote the program. By its literal terms, the bill requires DEP action only on a specific date: July 1, 2009. DEP has assumed that the bill's intent is to direct a measured, sustained campaign over a reasonable period of time (perhaps one year) to more effectively entrench the proposed program in the public consciousness, but a one-time advertising blitz could probably be devised and executed at half or less of the estimated expense.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Raymond S. Franks II, DEP General Counsel
Email Address: Raymond.S.Franks@wv.gov