FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 20, 2023
Time Requested: 01:43 PM
Agency: Education, WV State Board of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2862 Introduced HB2863
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

N/A

Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund County Funded

Legislation creates:

Increases Existing Expenses



Fiscal Note Summary


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


There is no additional cost to the State for this proposed legislation since the allowances under the Public School Support Plan (PSSP) are not being increased. Consequently, the total estimated cost would be borne by the county boards of education. The estimated cost to the county boards of education to employ homeless coordinators as required by the proposed legislation is $2,813,723.



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 2,813,723 2,813,723
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 2,813,723 2,813,723
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


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


There is no additional cost to the State for this proposed legislation since the allowances under the Public School Support Plan (PSSP) are not being increased. Consequently, the total estimated cost would be borne by the county boards of education. The estimated cost to the county boards of education to employ homeless coordinators as required by the proposed legislation is $2,813,723. The West Virginia Department of Education and State Board of Education do not currently designate county boards of education as urban or rural districts. However, utilizing current U.S. Census data readily available, twenty-three (23) county school boards are designated as “metro” and thirty-two (32) are designated as “non-metro.” Under the proposed legislation, the twenty-three (23) county boards of education would be required to employ a full-time homeless coordinator and the other thirty-two (32) county boards of education would be required to employ a half-time homeless coordinator, for a total of thirty-nine (39) full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. Using current average contracted salary data for all professional personnel within the county boards of education and current rates for fixed charges, health insurance, and retirement, the estimated cost to the county boards of education totals $2,813,723. Please note that this cost would change annually as county designations are revised.



Memorandum


The proposed legislation is vague as to when county boards of education would be required to begin hiring homeless coordinators. If the intent of the proposed legislation is that county boards of education begin hiring homeless coordinators upon passage of the legislation, there would be an additional cost to the county boards of education for hiring those positions for the remainder of the 2022-23 fiscal year. The proposed legislation also appears to place the requirement for hiring the homeless coordinators on the state board (18-8A-5(a)). However, based upon the language of the proposed legislation’s stated purpose, we believe the legislation intends for homeless coordinators to be hired by and work within the county boards of education. The attendance director position is currently included within the statutory definition of “professional student support personnel” (18-9A-2(f)) and is effectively funded through Step 5 (18-9A-8) of the PSSP. If it is the intent of the legislature to also include and fund the newly created homeless coordinator position, W. Va. Code 18-9A-2(f) and 18-9A-8 should be revised to include these positions. Also, if the intent of the Legislature is to provide additional funding to the county boards of education to fund the homeless coordinators via Step 5, the funding ratios contained within W. Va. Code 18-9A-8 would need to be increased an average of .16 FTE per 1,000 students, for an adjusted ratio total of 5.16 FTE per 1,000 students across all population densities.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Samuel E. Pauley
    Email Address: sepauley@k12.wv.us