FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 17, 2023
Time Requested: 04:55 PM |
| Agency: |
Auditor, State of WV |
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| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2220 |
Introduced |
HB2637 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
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FUND(S):
Auditor's General Administration Fund
Sources of Revenue:
General Fund
Legislation creates:
Increases Existing Expenses, Creates New Program
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of proposed House Bill 2637 is to allow all persons or entities required by the state law or court to post legal advertisements to utilize the State Auditor’s Central Legal Advertising website free of charge. Additionally, the Bill adjusts the timeframe in which Class II or III legal advertisements must be published if placed on the State Central Legal Advertising website. Lastly, the Bill directs the State Auditor’s Office to provide an electronic affidavit to legal advertisers certifying that specific advertisements were placed on the State Central Legal Advertising Website for the applicable time period and allows this affidavit to be accepted by the courts of the State as appropriate evidence of service of publication.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2023
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
130,000 |
130,000 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
5,000 |
5,000 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
30,000 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
180,000 |
180,000 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
After examining the requirements of the proposed legislation, the State Auditor’s Office would be required to provide the general public access to its secure data center and applications to utilize the State Central Legal Advertising website. This would require the State Auditor’s Office to provision a separate, firewalled environment to prevent users of the public from accessing protected information. Costs for additional hardware, software, and enterprise database licensing to provision the secure environment would total approximately $210,000 in FY 2024 and $180,000 for each subsequent FY. Additionally, as our helpdesk would begin to take troubleshooting calls from the general public, we anticipate the need for additional helpdesk personnel, supplies, and equipment due to the increased call volume. Finally, we anticipate the need for a staff member to moderate the legal advertisements and verify the identities of those posting the advertisements to ensure they are authorized to post on behalf of an individual or entity to prevent fraudulent activity. As the proposed Bill requires the service to be provided to the public free of charge, there would be no increases in revenues.
Memorandum
We have no additional comments regarding the proposed legislation.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Anthony M. Woods, CPA
Email Address: anthony.woods@wvsao.gov