LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 4707

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 2018

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste.

Type of Impact:

An expenditure increase to the General Fund.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Agriculture

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3 

State Expenditure Increase

 

Marginal.

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that the bill would produce an annual State expenditure increase to the General Fund to develop and distribute informational material regarding food waste. 

 

·         The OLS is unable to determine a precise cost estimate since the type of informational material to be utilized for distribution has not been determined.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to create a public awareness campaign to educate the general public on food waste prevention by raising awareness regarding:

            (1)        strategies to reduce wasteful shopping which may include the benefits of creating a shopping list;

            (2)        the benefits of freezing meat close to the expiration date; and

            (3)        the meaning of date labels definitions such as “use by,” “sell by,” and “best buy.”

      The department would be required to encourage the reduction of food waste through donating or composting leftover food and to develop and distribute appropriate informational materials regarding food waste, which may include, but need not be limited to, the use of social media, television, radio, or print media.


 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS determines that the bill would produce an annual State expenditure increase to the General Fund to develop and distribute informational material regarding food waste.  The OLS is unable to determine a precise cost estimate since the type of informational material to be utilized for distribution has not been determined.

 

 

Section:

Environment, Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources

Analyst:

Neha Mehta Patel

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).