FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 21, 2015
Time Requested: 12:02 PM
Agency: Auditor, State of WV
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1697 Introduced SB114
CBD Subject: Municipalities


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 provisions of proposed Senate Bill 114 create a new program which requires every municipal police force or department to adopt a formal policy by January 1, 2016 requiring all their law-enforcement officers to vest an armor vest throughout each duty shift, whenever feasible. An “armor vest” as defined under the proposed legislation is one which meets the performance standards established by the National Law-Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) as set out in NIJ Standard 0101.03. According to information made available to us, we estimate approximately 1,900 municipal police officers in the State of West Virginia who would be required to be provided with an armor vest assuming adoption of the legislation. Further information made available to us indicates that a quality armor vest of the type appearing to be envisioned by the legislation would cost approximately $600.00 per vest. The approximate average use expectancy of such an armor vest would be between 7 to 10 years depending on average use. Therefore, we estimate the cost associated with adoption of the proposed legislation would be about $1,140,000 in the initial year of implementation. Thereafter, only newly-hired municipal police officers would be required to be provided with armor vests. All vests would need to be replaced on an average cycle of once every 7 to 10 years.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2015
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2016
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 1,140,000 160,000
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 1,140,000 160,000
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


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


Assuming an overall turnover rate of approximately 10% per year in the municipal police officer workforce and the need to replace armor vests over time, we estimate ongoing costs would be about $160,000 per year at the current average price of envisioned armor vests.



Memorandum






    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Michael E. Sizemore, CPA
    Email Address: Mike.Sizemore@wvsao.gov