FISCAL NOTE

SENATE, No. 2162

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MAY 21, 2018

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Directs Dept. of Agriculture to develop and implement beginning farmer mentoring program in cooperation with certain agricultural and educational organizations and entities.

Type of Impact:

Expenditure increase to the General Fund.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Agriculture.

 

 

Executive Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Fiscal Year 2018 

Fiscal Year 2019 

Fiscal Year 2020 

Annual State Expenditure Increase

$125,000

$125,000

$125,000

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concurs with the Executive estimate.

 

·         The Executive estimates that there would be an annual cost of $80,000 for salaries, employee fringe benefits, and other employee benefits for one agriculture resource specialist and an additional annual cost of $45,000 for purchased services such as additions, improvements, and equipment or for services of a contract nature.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in consultation and cooperation with the State Agriculture Development Committee, the New Jersey Farm Bureau, the county boards of agriculture, Rutgers the State University, the New Jersey Agricultural Society, and any other appropriate agricultural, horticultural, or educational entities in the State, to develop and implement a beginning farmer mentoring program by which experienced farmers would provide guidance, advice, and other appropriate assistance to beginning farmers so that they and their farms may succeed and thrive.

      The bill also would authorize the department to partner with appropriate public or private organizations or entities to accomplish the purposes of the bill, including entering into agreements or contracts with those organizations or entities to operate the program, in whole or in part, under the general supervision of the department.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      According to the Executive estimate, the administrative costs associated with implementation of the bill would be $80,000 each year, for salaries, employee fringe benefits, and other employee benefits for one agriculture resource specialist.  In addition, the Executive estimates that there would be an additional annual cost of $45,000 for purchased services such as additions, improvements, and equipment or for services of a contract nature under which no employer-employee relationship is established.

 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concurs with the Executive estimate.

 

 

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