FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 08, 2017
Time Requested: 05:47 PM
Agency: Education, WV Department of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1152 Introduced HB2166
CBD Subject: Boards and Commissions, Education (Higher)


FUND(S):



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 require county boards of education to employ a certified library media specialist in each county school. The bill also requires the board to develop professional standards and the salary for the certified library media specialist. There is no additional cost to the State for this proposed legislation since the allowances under the Public School Support Program are not being increased. Consequently, the total estimated cost would have to be borne by the county boards. The estimated annual cost to the county boards of education for the proposed legislation is $28,368,594.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2017
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2018
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 28,368,594 28,368,594
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 28,368,594 28,368,594
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


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


This estimate assumes that the library media specialist positions required by this legislation can be filled by the librarians currently employed within each county school system. This estimate also assumes that the proposed legislation requires a full-time library media specialist at each public school. Using the 2016-17 count of West Virginia public schools by county (total of 715 schools), less the total librarians employed by each county (271.39 on an FTE basis), an additional 443.61 library media specialist positions would be needed in order to meet the requirements of this proposed legislation. The estimated annual cost of $28,368,594 includes the salary and fringe benefit costs (fixed charges, retirement and PEIA) for the additional required staff and would be borne by the county boards.



Memorandum


The proposed legislation does not identify when this requirement would become effective. The proposed legislation does not specify whether the required position is to be full-time or part-time. West Virginia Code ยง18-5-20(a) allows county boards of education the ability to provide libraries for its schools, but does not require libraries at all schools. This proposed legislation appears to require a library media specialist at every public school. This could create situations where schools without libraries are required to hire a library media specialist.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
    Email Address: bfreed@k12.wv.us