FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 09, 2017
Time Requested: 03:25 PM
Agency: Insurance Commission
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1437 Introduced SB228
CBD Subject: Workers Compensation


FUND(S):

7152

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


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


Senate Bill 228 has no significant fiscal impact to the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, provided that the expansion of worker's compensation benefits to include cardiovascular diseases incurred by volunteer firefighters are not considered to apply retroactively.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2017
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2018
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):






Memorandum


Senate Bill 228 would not significantly impact the regulatory responsibilities of the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, or the revenues or expenses related to those responsibilities.  If enacted, SB228 would expand the definition of "professional firefighter" to include volunteer firefighters and therefore expand the rebuttable presumption of compensability for occupational disease claims, including cardiovascular injury or disease to include volunteer firefighters. The expansion of the rebuttable presumption will increase the coverage base and will also increase workers' compensation premiums for this classification of employees. SB228 also requires the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner to study certain matters related to the workers' compensation premium rates and classifications for volunteer firefighters. The OIC does not believe that there would be significant additional costs related to completion of this study. However, it should be noted that there is a lack of credible data available for use in preparing the requested report.



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