FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 20, 2026
Time Requested: 04:51 PM |
| Agency: |
Human Services, WV Department of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 3101 |
Introduced |
SB525 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Human Services; Juveniles |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
0493 - Bureau for Social Services - Child Protective Services Case Workers, 0496 - Bureau for Social Services - Youth Service Case Workers , 8722 - Cons Federal Funds Div Human Services Gen Admn Fd, 8757 - Federal Block Grant Social Services Fund, 8816 -
Sources of Revenue:
Other Fund General and Federal
Legislation creates:
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services to provide child welfare workers with mobile technology that will permit them to conduct investigations and create a digital record.
Supplying mobile technology will allow automatic upload to the system and reduce the need for a child protective services worker to input data manually into a system. This will enhance service delivery to children. This data will allow managers to have real time access to data to conduct quality improvement analysis.
The Department estimates a fiscal impact of $60,600 ($43,026 state/$17,574 federal) the first year and $37,875 ($26,892 state/$10,983 federal) per year ongoing, as a result of this legislation.
There is potential for long-term cost savings from reduction of man hours related to manual data input that cannot be quantified at this time.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
60,600 |
37,875 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
60,600 |
37,875 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The Department estimated costs assuming Kanawha and Wetzel counties as the pilot counties. The Department would need to purchase101 iPads for staff in those 2 counties. An iPad from the state-wide contract is $200 each. An iPad case with keyboard is $25.00 per iPad. Total equipment cost would be $225 per iPad x 101 employees ($22,725). The monthly data plan is $31.25 per iPad per month, $375.00 per year from the state-wide data plan. The annual data plan would be $37,875 ($375 x 101 employees). Total first year costs would be $60,600 ($600.00 ($200 + $25 + $375) per iPad with data plan and case x 101 employees).
The iPad would allow staff to access PATH, which is the case record system for child welfare. Data entered into PATH via the iPad will be saved in the system database real-time. The iPad would also allow staff to access their email and other applications that assist with their daily casework.
The five year pilot will total $212,100.00 ($60,600 for first year equipment purchase and data plan, then $37,875.00 for 4 years to maintain the data plans on 101 iPads equals $151,500.00)
Memorandum
The Bureau selected a large county-Kanawha and a small county-Wetzel to implement the pilot.
These cost estimates do not include any report development to extract quality metrics from PATH or any other source. Those costs are not estimable at this time.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Alex J. Mayer, MSA, PMP, DoHS Cabinet Secretary
Email Address: osafiscalnotes@wv.gov