FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 12, 2022
Time Requested: 05:01 PM
Agency: Health and Human Resources, WV Department of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1214 Introduced SB174
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

0403 - Div of Human Services General Administrative; 8722 Cons Federal Div Human Services Gen Admn; 8757 - Federal Block Grant Social Services; 8816 - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund General & Federal

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The purpose of this bill is to have social workers identified for each elementary, middle school, junior high school, and high school in the state who are to be available to teachers, principals, and other school staff upon request, to help improve or maintain school attendance and performance and to improve the health and well-being of students at home. Limitations on services are set forth. The Department estimates fiscal impact relating to this bill to be $28,716,183. (approximately 18,091,195 state/10,624,988 federal; based on current time study allocations).



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 28,716,183 28,716,183
Personal Services 0 28,716,183 28,716,183
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):


The department assumed 1 social worker per each elementary, middle school and junior high school (637) as required by the bill. The school number came from the State Board of Education 2021-22 school year. The estimated costs for the first year and subsequent years will be $28,716,183. This amount was determined by taking number of social workers needed (637) times the average filled position social worker III salary ($33,895), plus benefits calculated at 33%.



Memorandum


The bill specifically says from "established staff", but the requirements of the bill can not be satisfied with existing staff. The bill states that a social worker will be assigned to each school but does not indicate whether that must be a full time position or whether a specific worker can be assigned to multiple schools. The cost estimate reflects a position at each school, and therefore it does not include mileage costs for a social worker to travel back and forth between schools. This bill not only assigns existing staff to work with the schools but it also expands the scope of their job duties and gives them a new working title. This appears to put them in the roll of an advisor/counselor to teachers, students and parents and excludes them from the CPS role. This bill will have a significant impact on CPS by diverting existing licensed CPS and other child welfare workers to staff this program. The bill does not specify how many staff are to be allocated to the schools or how the positions will be funded. Would there be a different FFP and can federal dollars be used to fund these positions. If this is deemed a full time position, the bill does not address the responsibilities of the workers when school is out or reconcile the differences in attendance and contractual days between DHHR employees and Educational System employees. This bill would create different job classes that would result in different pay grades and possible pay differentials between workers. That could result in job movements between classes and increase the difficulty in filling CPS positions. The bill is not clear how this code would impact the social workers' current civil service job description and titles, which are outlined to carry out the tasks and duties according to DHHR policies, which were developed to outline our statutory responsibilities. These duties are under the Cabinet Secretary for DHHR, not the superintendent of the local county Boards of Education, as are the duties outlined in the bill. The Bureau for Public Health's Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCH) Program is mandated under WV Code, Chapter 49, Article 2, Part V. This proposed legislation adds a new Article to Chapter 49 but would not require CSHCN social workers to provide any additional services beyond those already provided to CSHCN clients. CSHCN has 15 licensed social workers that currently provide care coordination for children eligible under the CSHCN Program. One of the functions of a CSHCN social worker is to serve as a liaison between a child's medical home team and said child's associated community based supports, including the child's school, as necessary. In addition to this staffing, there would be a need for additional supervision and statewide program development to assure quality and consistency across the program. Additional training will be needed.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Bill J. Crouch
    Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice@wv.gov