FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 14, 2018
Time Requested: 01:58 PM
Agency: Justice and Community Services, WV Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2602 Introduced SB535
CBD Subject: Courts


FUND(S):

Law Enforcement Training (LET) Fund

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Increases Revenue From Existing Sources



Fiscal Note Summary


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


This measure will have no cost impact to the Division of Justice and Community Services. A system is currently in place for collections, transfers and distribution of funds. This increased revenue would allow for funding of required basic law enforcement training academies to all law enforcement officers in West Virginia except the State Police (e.g. municipalities, counties, campus police, etc.) and at a pace which will meet demand.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2018
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2019
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 0 528,000 528,000


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


The $2 fee has remained unchanged since 1981, and is part of the overall total court costs assessed in most criminal cases. Assuming the bill passes July 1, 2018 - Increasing the $2 fee to $10 could theoretically produce approximately $528,000 additional dollars. This amount is a best-case scenario and is based on amplifying current collections by a proportionate amount.



Memorandum


It is projected that the special revenue account created to fund basic law enforcement academies will reach a zero balance by September 2018 at the latest. At that time, conducting basic, entry level training classes for new police officers at the West Virginia State Police Academy will be postponed for an undetermined amount of time until adequate funds exist to pay for training. Subsequently, each class thereafter will have to be postponed, creating a bottleneck/backlog of law enforcement officers in the State to be trained. It is the Division’s opinion that this will create a public safety issue. A 2012 audit by the Legislature’s Performance Evaluation and Research Division determined that the $2 court cost fee directed to the LET Fund was not sufficient to meet the training requirements of law enforcement officers. This finding was confirmed during a 2014-15 Legislative Interim Study by the Joint Committee on Finance. Any increase of funds that are realized will directly provide for required law enforcement training and certification for law enforcement officers in a manner that meets the current demand for training. In short, training and certifying officers in the most efficient time-frame possible after they are hired by an agency.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Jeffrey D. Estep, Chief Deputy Director
    Email Address: Jeff.D.Estep@wv.gov