S. 1573 would require the National Weather Service (NWS) to employ a warning coordinator at each of its weather forecast offices and to conduct certain studies. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $1 million over the 2016-2017 period. Because enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
The bill would require NWS to ensure that each of the agency’s 122 weather forecast offices has a warning coordinator. Because the agency already meets that requirement, CBO estimates that implementing this provision would not affect federal spending. The bill also would require the agency to study the effectiveness of the hazardous weather alert system and to report on the use of contractors at NWS. Based on information from NOAA, CBO estimates that conducting those studies would cost $1 million over the 2016-2017 period, assuming availability of appropriate funds.
S. 1573 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Public entities, such as state or local government agencies responsible for responding to weather emergencies, would benefit from information and technical assistance provided by the National Weather Service.
