LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 4371

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 29, 2020

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires cost savings study of compassionate release program and elimination of mandatory minimum terms; establishes “Corrections Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention Fund.”

Type of Impact:

State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Corrections; State Parole Board; State Treasurer.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual 

 

 

State Cost Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) anticipates that indeterminate, likely nominal, costs would be incurred for conducting a study to determine cost savings from reduction of prison population due to compassionate release or elimination of mandatory minimum terms. 

 

·         The bill requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to issue an annual report with the results of the study. The costs associated with this study would be largely for the reimbursement of necessary expenses, including but not limited to travel, office support staff, printing and other miscellaneous costs. State government agencies may incur indeterminate but nominal expenses if called upon to assist the DOC in its deliberations.

 

·         Following the study, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to deposit any savings from compassionate release or elimination of mandatory minimum terms of parole eligibility into a newly created fund. The costs involved with setting up the fund are likely to be negligible.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

     This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Chairman of the State Parole Board and the State Treasurer to conduct a study to determine the fiscal impact of cost savings from a reduction of prison population due to implementation of legislation to create a compassionate release program and eliminate mandatory minimum terms of parole ineligibility for certain inmates. 

     In addition, this bill requires the commissioner to deposit any savings into a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the “Corrections Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention Fund,” with the funds to be used to support recidivism reduction programs and other services meant to facilitate inmates’ successful reentry.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS anticipates that indeterminate, likely nominal, costs would be incurred for conducting a study to determine cost savings from reduction of prison population due to compassionate release or elimination of mandatory minimum terms. The DOC is required to issue an annual report with the results of the study. The costs associated with this study would be largely for the reimbursement of necessary expenses, including but not limited to travel, office support staff, printing and other miscellaneous costs. State government agencies may incur indeterminate but nominal costs if called upon to assist the commission in its deliberations.

 

 

Section:

Judiciary

Analyst:

Anuja Pande Joshi

Assistant Research Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

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