FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 24, 2020
Time Requested: 01:25 PM

2587	Introduced	SB620
Agency:	Corrections & Rehabilitation, Division of
CBD Number:	Version:	Bill Number:	Resolution Number:
CBD Subject:	Corrections

FUND(S):

General Revenue

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Decreases Existing Expenses

Fiscal Note Summary

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

Predicted Cost Savings This bill includes language which sets its effective date as July 1, 2021, and because many of the inmates who would be parole eligible during the first year of the program have yet to be sentenced to the Commissioner of Corrections, the WVDCR is unable to forecast exactly how many inmates would be impacted. However, in FY2019, a total of 4,444 inmates were interviewed for parole by the Parole Board, of those: 1. 2,992 were non-violent 2. Of the 2,992 that were non-violent, 2169 were granted parole (72%) and 823 were denied (28%) 3. Of the 2,992 non-violent inmates who saw the Parole Board, 1,635 had completed their Program Plan (55%) 4. Of the 823 non-violent Inmates who saw the Parole Board and were denied, 263 had completed their Program Plan (32%) If we assume that at least 4,444 inmates would be seen by the Parole Board in FY2022 (the first FY the bill would be in effect), we can estimate that: 1. At least 1,635 of those hearings would be avoided due to the inmate’s eligibility for the program, and 2. at least 263 of those inmates, who would have been denied previously, would be released through the program. These figures assume that the number of inmates seeing the Parole Board per year is stable. However, this number has traditionally increased each year. For example, the number seeing the Board in FY17 was 3,613, and the number seeing the Board in FY18 was 3,963. Therefore, the calculations should be interpreted as the minimal impact possible under the law. If more inmates would see the Board in FY22 and/or more complete their program plans, it’s possible the impact could be higher. Based on the calculated number of inmates who would be released based on this new legislation (263), the state could expect an annual savings of $5,159,731 (263 inmates x $53.75 current State Inmate Per Diem to Jails x 365 days a year). Predicted Costs Because the legislation requires the administration of a new program and additional inmates being released to parole, there are some costs associated with its implementation. The WVDCR estimates that it would need the following additional staff and equipment: 1. 3 additional Parole Officer I’s and 2 additional Parole Officer II’s (target caseloads of 50 offenders, to supervise the 263 additional inmates on parole), at an annual cost of $220,000 (approximately $32,000 base salary + 40% for benefits = $44,000 per officer). 2. 2 additional Re-entry Coordinators at Central Office, who would oversee verifying Program Plan Completion and other eligibility requirements and preparing release papers for the Commissioner or Designee’s signature, at an annual cost of $84,000 (approximately $30,000 base salary + 40% for benefits = $42,000). 3. 2 additional Reentry Coordinators, 1 for Parkersburg Correctional Center and 1 for Charleston Correctional Center/Beckley Correctional Center. The WVDCR anticipates that many of the inmates in these facilities will be eligible for the program. The additional cost would be $84,000 (approximately $30,000 base salary + 40% for benefits = $42,000). 4. Equipment Costs: New staff would need base equipment supplies, such as weapons and radios for officers, and computer equipment, estimated at $10,000. Total cost for program implementation is estimated at $398,000.

Fiscal Note Detail

Effect of Proposal	Fiscal Year
Effect of Proposal	2020 Increase/Decrease (use"-")	2021 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

Please identify any areas of vagueness, technical defects, reasons a bill would not have a fiscal impact, and/or any special issues not captured elsewhere on this form.

Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brad Douglas, WVDCR Chief of Staff
Email Address: brad.t.douglas@wv.gov