FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 12, 2024
Time Requested: 01:06 PM |
| Agency: |
Auditor, State of WV |
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| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2549 |
Introduced |
HB4615 |
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|---|
| CBD Subject: |
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FUND(S):
State Funds - State Auditor General Administration Fund
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 proposed House Bill 4615 is to allow all persons or entities required by state law or court order to post legal advertisements to utilize the State Auditor’s Central Legal Advertising Website created by the legislation, free of charge. Additionally, the proposed Bill adjusts the timeframe in which Class II or Class III legal advertisements must be published if placed on the State Central Legal Advertising Website. Lastly, the proposed Bill directs the State Auditor’s Office to provide an electronic affidavit to legal advertisers certifying that specific advertisements were placed on the State Central Legal Advertising Website for the applicable time period and allows this affidavit to be accepted by the courts of the State as appropriate evidence of service of publication.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
362,250 |
330,750 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
136,500 |
136,500 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
5,250 |
5,250 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
31,500 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
189,000 |
189,000 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
After examining the requirements of the proposed legislation, the State Auditor’s Office would be required to provide the general public access to its secure data center and applications to utilize the State Central Legal Advertising Website. This would require the State Auditor’s Office to provision a separate, firewalled environment to prevent users of the public from accessing protected information. Costs for additional hardware, software and enterprise database licensing to provision the secure environment would total $220,500 in the fiscal year of implementation (Fiscal Year 2025) and $189,000 in ensuing fiscal years. Additionally, as our Helpdesk would begin to take troubleshooting calls from the general public, we anticipate the need for additional Helpdesk personnel, supplies and equipment due to the increased call volume. Lastly, we anticipate the need for an additional staff member to moderate the legal advertisements and verify the identities of those posting the advertisements to ensure they are, in fact, authorized to post on behalf of an individual or entity in order to prevent fraudulent activity. As the proposed Bill mandates access to the services be provided to the general public free of charge, there will be no increases in State revenues, if the Bill becomes law.
Memorandum
We have no additional comments regarding the proposed legislation.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Michael E. Sizemore, CPA
Email Address: Mike.Sizemore@wvsao.gov