FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 10, 2022
Time Requested: 01:41 PM
Agency: Insurance Commission
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1342 Introduced SB133
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

7162, 7173

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


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


Senate Bill 133, if enacted, would create a rebuttable presumption of injury arising out of and in the course of employment for professional firefighters diagnosed with bladder cancer, mesothelioma, and testicular cancer. It is probable that the provisions of SB 133 would increase workers' compensation premium rates for employers who employ firefighters. It is important to note that governmental entities are the typical employer of professional firefighters, so they would bear the increased costs. As there is no effective date in SB 133, it is also likely that the enactment of SB 133 could impact some State administered worker's compensation funds with increased costs due to retroactive application of SB133. The Offices of the Insurance Commissioner is unable to quantify the extent of the potential costs increases.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2022
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2023
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 0 0


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


Please explain increases and decreases in personal services, current expenses, repairs and alterations, assets, other costs and revenues, including assumptions and data sources and delineation between start-up and ongoing costs. Please also include a long-range schedule of costs and revenues if fiscal impact is expected to vary in future years.



Memorandum


Senate Bill 133, if enacted, would expand the diseases designated to create rebuttable presumptions of injury arising out of and in the course of employment for professional firefighters to include three additional diseases: bladder cancer, mesothelioma, and testicular cancer. The OIC is unable to quantify the potential increased costs to employers of firefighters or to the State administered worker's compensation funds due to lack of data regarding incidence of those diseases in that classification of workers. We also noted that Senate Bill 133 does not contain an effective date, so retroactive application of the provisions of SB 133 appears possible. The provisions of SB 133 do have an expiration date, which is unusual for benefits awarded under Chapter 23.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Melinda Kiss
    Email Address: Melinda.A.Kiss@wv.gov