FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: February 10, 2021
Time Requested: 04:14 PM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
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| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1288 |
Introduced |
HB2059 |
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| CBD Subject: |
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FUND(S):
0265
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Creates New Expense
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this bill is to establish a Wildlife Rehabilitation Section within the Division of Natural Resources. The bill requires employing a veterinarian as a Director of Rehab to issue permits to qualified individuals for the purpose of rehabilitating wildlife to be released into the wild. Permits issued to qualified individuals will be $100. If this bill should become law the Division of Natural Resources estimates annual operational costs in excess of $260,000.
Startup costs would include the purchase of a vehicle modified with special accessories to facilitate animal capture and transportation, a building (either built or modified) to accommodate animal handling and staff to manage the program. Startup costs are estimated to exceed $870,000.
Hunting and Fishing License revenue cannot be used to fund this new program. New appropriation from General Revenue would need to be provided in order to accomplish this new mandate.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2021
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2022
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
-870,469 |
-268,469 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
-190,469 |
-190,469 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
-64,000 |
-64,000 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
-65,500 |
-14,000 |
| Other |
0 |
-549,000 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Explanation of Costs Startup Cost Annual Cost
Director (Veterinarian) PG-21 $90,031 $90,031
Veterinarian Assistant PG-11 $52,679 $52,679
Secretary 2 PG-09 $47,758 $47,758
Total Salary and Benefits $190,469 $190,469
Vehicle Ford F250 Gas $28,000
Vehicle Accessories $10,000
Travel Expense 30,000 miles x $0.5 per mile $15,000 $15,000
Total Vehicle Costs $53,000 $53,000
Equipment
Transfer Cages, etc. $2,500
Supplies (gloves, drugs, etc.) $4,000 $4,000
Computer/Printer Supplies $3,000 $500
Miscellaneous (specialty tools, etc.) $9,500 $9,500
Total Equipment Costs $19,000 $14,000
Building
Build or modify $500,000 $500,000
Maintenance/Utilities $35,000 $35,000
Office Supplies $4,000 $4,000
Explanation of Costs Startup Cost Annual Cost
Director (Veterinarian) PG-21 $90,031 $90,031
Veterinarian Assistant PG-11 $52,679 $52,679
Secretary 2 PG-09 $47,758 $47,758
Total Salary and Benefits $190,469 $190,469
Vehicle Ford F250 Gas $28,000
Vehicle Accessories $10,000
Travel Expense 30,000 miles x $0.5 per mile $15,000 $15,000
Total Vehicle Costs $53,000 $53,000
Equipment
Transfer Cages, etc. $2,500
Supplies (gloves, drugs, etc.) $4,000 $4,000
Computer/Printer Supplies $3,000 $500
Miscellaneous (specialty tools, etc.) $9,500 $9,500
Total Equipment Costs $19,000 $14,000
Building
Build or modify $500,000 $500,000
Maintenance/Utilities $35,000 $35,000
Office Supplies $4,000 $4,000
Janitorial $10,000 $10,000
Total Building Cost $549,000 $49,000
Total Costs $811,469 $268,469
Memorandum
This bill is designed to issue permits to qualified individuals to rehabilitate injured wildlife and release back into the wild. Rehabilitating and releasing wildlife is plagued with difficulties and proposes numerous dangers to healthy wildlife populations. The number of individuals desiring to become a wildlife rehabilitator is unknown. Combined with the necessary training, operating and startup costs (facilities, equipment, supplies, permits, etc.), only a select few dedicated individuals would likely be financially able to support the financial burden of being a wildlife rehabilitator. Further, fees collected from permits would contribute virtually nothing to the support of the program.
It is difficult to foresee the myriad of challenges facing the implementation of the Wildlife Rehabilitation program. Currently there are 4 Wild Raptor Rehabilitation facilities located in West Virginia that can handle birds-of-prey and migratory birds protected by federal law.
Funds supporting this program will need to be from sources not associated with hunting and fishing license sales to avoid a diversion status from the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration Program administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A diversion status from this program would result in the agency losing $10.6 million annually.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Amanda Morris
Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov