FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

Road Fund

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


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


***REVISED FISCAL NOTE WORKSHEET*** The purpose of this bill is to create within the Division of Motor Vehicles the Office of Administrative Law Judge. The office would be supervised by a Chief Administrator appointed by the Governor. The Administrative Law Judges will hear appeals from those who have been charged with DUI traffic offenses. Hearings for these appeals are to be held at a Division of Motor Vehicles office closest to the county where the arrest was made. Administrative Law Judges are to be lawyers with at least two years of experience. The Division of Motor Vehicles currently uses twelve (12) Hearings Examiners who are located throughout the state. Since this bill only addresses the Administrative Law Judges holding DUI hearings, six (6) Hearing Examiner position would have to be retained to hear other types of appeals. The Division estimates that this bill will require the hiring of one (1) Chief Administrator, twelve (12) Administrative Law Judges, one (1) Executive Secretary, and one (1) paralegal. Other positions needed to schedule and transcribe the hearings would be performed by current staff. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office would need to hire twelve (12) additional attorneys to represent the Division of Motor Vehicles. Estimated cost to add the new Administrative Law Judges Office to the Division of Motor Vehicles would be $2,086,165. This estimate takes into consideration that eleven (11) of the current Hearing Examiner positions would be transferred to the new Administrative Law Judge Office. Six (6) Hearing Examiners would be maintained since the Division of Motor Vehicles will hold other appeals hearings besides DUI.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2011
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 2,086,165 2,086,165 2,086,155
Personal Services 690,538 690,538 690,538
Current Expenses 1,353,084 1,353,084 1,353,084
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 42,543 42,543 42,543
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


CURRENT COST: Personnel Services: Chief Administrator 1 @ $ 75,000 $ 75,000 Judges 12 @ $ 50,000 $ 600,000 Executive Secretary 1 @ $ 35,000 $ 35,000 Paralegal 1 @ $ 32,000 $ 32,000 Sub Total 15 employees $ 742,000 Less Current Positions ($ 218,280) Additional P.S. Budget $ 523,720 Sub Total Benefits $ 238,623 Less Fringe Benefits ($ 71,805) Additional Benefits $ 166,818 Current Expenses: Office Space $ 42,250 Print Cartridges $ 1,300 Cell Phones $ 3,900; ($ 1,800) Calling Cards $ 130 Vehicle Rent $ 65,520; ($30,240) Maintenance $ 17,316; ($ 7,992) Supplies $ 4,500 Printers $ 300 Print Cartridges $ 100 Software $ 5,000 AG’s Reps $1,252,800 Sub Total $1,393,116 ($40,032) Additional Current Expenses $1,353,084 Equipment: Laptops $ 25,362; ($12,816) Printers $ 1,500; ($ 600) Desktops $ 2,097 Workstations $ 27,000 Sub Total $ 55,959 ($13,416) Additional Equipment $ 42,543 TOTAL ADDITIONAL COST $ 2,086,165



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Rick Johnston
    Email Address: Rick.M.Johnston@wv.gov