LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4378

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 31, 2020

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes position of State School Nurse Consultant in DOE to facilitate best practices in school nursing by advancing comprehensive school health services.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.  

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that enactment of this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures to the Department of Education (DOE), primarily to provide for the salary and fringe benefits of the State School Nurse Consultant.  The bill may also result in increased State costs to the DOE to the extent that additional staff, materials and supplies, and office space may be needed to support the role of the State School Nurse Consultant.

·         Using the most recently available public payroll data from neighboring states to New Jersey, the OLS finds that the average annual salaries for State School Nurse Consultants in those states range between approximately $100,000 and $150,000.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes the position of State School Nurse Consultant in the DOE.  Under the bill, the State School Nurse Consultant would work with school districts and school nurses to facilitate best practices in school nursing by advancing comprehensive school health services to address the health and wellness of all students throughout the State.

      The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to appoint the State School Nurse Consultant.  The person appointed to the position is required to be a New Jersey certified school nurse who holds a master's degree and has demonstrated higher-level leadership with recent school nursing experience.  Once appointed, the State School Nurse Consultant would be required to collaborate with the Department of Health, other State agencies, and associated stakeholders in executing the mission and duties of the position as specified in the bill.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that enactment of this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures to the DOE, primarily to provide for the salary and fringe benefits of the State School Nurse Consultant.  The bill may also result in increased State costs to the DOE to the extent that additional staff, materials and supplies, and office space may be needed to support the role of the State School Nurse Consultant. 

      Using the most recently available public payroll data from neighboring states to New Jersey, the OLS finds that the average annual salaries for the equivalent positions of State School Nurse Consultants in those states range between approximately $100,000 and $150,000.  The current fringe benefit rate for public employees in New Jersey, as enumerated by the Office of Management and Budget, is 38.5 percent of base salary costs.  Thus, total personnel costs for the hiring of a State School Nurse Consultant in New Jersey may be between $138,500 and $207,750, if the State provides a base salary that is consistent with those of State School Nurse Consultants in other nearby states.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Associate Fiscal 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.).