ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1024

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 15, 2021

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1024 (1R).

      This bill requires the State Registrar of Vital Statistics in the Department of Health to issue one free copy of a birth certificate to a military veteran.  Under the bill, a current or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard is to be eligible to receive one certified copy of his or her birth certificate upon request.  Additional copies of the birth certificate are to be subject to the regular statutory fee.

      As used in the bill, “veteran” means any individual who has been discharged or released from service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans’ benefits.  “Veteran” is not to include an individual discharged or released under dishonorable circumstances.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill would result in an indeterminate decrease in State revenue due to the establishment of a policy that would provide for the issuance of one free birth certificate to a military veteran.

      The Office of Vital Statistics in the Department of Health currently charges a $25 fee to issue an initial certificate of birth.  The number of individuals who are military veterans and request a birth certificate from the Office each year is not available; therefore, the OLS cannot quantify the fiscal impact of this bill.  However, each certificate which is issued gratis pursuant to this bill will result in $25 of reduced revenue to the General Fund.