DATED: JANUARY 21, 1999

The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2419 (1R) with committee amendments.

Assembly No. 2419 (1R), a s amended, establishes a New Jersey State Commission on Spinal Cord Research. The commission would be allocated within the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), but would be independent of supervision or control by the DHSS or by any board or officer thereof.

The commission's responsibility would be to design and administer a grant program to fund approved medical and scientific research projects that focus on the treatment of spinal cord injuries and diseases that damage the spinal cord.

The moneys for these grants would be generated by a $1 surcharge on all motor vehicle fines. These moneys would be deposited in a special nonlapsing fund in the Department of the Treasury to be known as the "New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund."

The commission would consist of 11 members, including the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and 10 appointed members known for their knowledge, competence, experience or interest in medical research relating to the treatment of spinal cord injuries and diseases. These public members are to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serve for terms of three years. The initial appointment terms are staggered to ensure continuity. The members are not entitled to compensation for their services, but are to be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal note has been prepared for this legislation. The bill provides that a $1 surcharge be added to all motor vehicle fines and be annually deposited in the "New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund," established under the bill. The fund will be used to provide grants for approved spinal cord research projects at qualified research institutions. According to the fiscal notes on similar subjects, this surcharge should generate approximately $1.3 million to $2.0 million annually.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amendments delay the effective date to the seventh month following enactment to provide time to implement the new fee and make technical changes to reflect to current law enacted as P.L.1998, c.149 concerning fines and penalties for the "Body Armor Replacement Fund."