Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund N/A

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 establish the Office of Child Advocacy. The bill defines terms. The bill sets forth the powers and duties of the Office of Child Advocacy and provides the qualifications, term of office and salary of its Director. The bill grants authority for the Director to hire staff. Also, the bill provides the Director and staff of the Office of Child Advocacy to investigate and monitor the Division of Child Protective Services and Division of Juvenile Services. The bill authorizes access by office of Child Protective Services and certain Division of Corrections to records and information. The bill allows communications with children involved in Child Protective Services investigations and in the custody of the division of Juvenile Services. The bill further provides for confidentiality of certain information and grants immunity to Office from liability in specified circumstances. As written, the proposed legislation will have no impact on the Department of Health and Human Resources.

Fiscal Note Detail

Effect of Proposal	Fiscal Year
Effect of Proposal	2011 Increase/Decrease (use"-")	2012 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):

Memorandum

§49-6F-3b states "The director reports directly to the Governor." and §49-6F-3c states "The Office of Child Advocacy and the staff of the office is independent of the Department of Health and Human Resources." Therefore, the direct fiscal impact would be located in the Governor's Office.

Person submitting Fiscal Note: Michael J. Lewis, M.D., Ph.D.
Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice@wv.gov