LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 5752
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 21, 2021
SUMMARY
Synopsis: |
Requires Commissioner of Corrections to appoint workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement inmate workforce skills training programming. |
Type of Impact: |
Annual State expenditure increase |
Agencies Affected: |
Department of Corrections |
Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
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Annual State Cost Increase |
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Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) projects an annual indeterminate State expenditure increase to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming for inmates in State correctional facilities. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the expenditure increase, as it is unclear if the Department of Corrections (DOC) would need to hire a new person for the position or if current staff responsible for the role would need to put in overtime hours. Furthermore, the bill does not specify the new program offerings for enhanced workforce skills training to be made available by the DOC.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming for inmates in State correctional facilities.
Under current law, the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, is required to establish a mandatory workforce skills training program in each State correctional facility. This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement these programs.
In administering the mandatory workforce training program in each State correctional facility, the workforce skills training development officer is required to: improve upon the facility's most successful workforce skills training program offerings, as determined by the rate of enrollment and completion of the programs; introduce new workforce skills training program offerings to inmates of the facility; and provide workforce skills training programming, to be modified as needed, which is consistent with actual post-release employment opportunities and reflects the State's emerging industry and business workforce needs.
The bill provides that the workforce skills training development officer is required, on a regular basis but not less than once per year, to meet with a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, and the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools in order to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming available at a State correctional facility.
The provisions of the bill also require the Commissioner of Corrections to consult with the workforce skills training development officer in promulgating any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the mandatory workforce skills training program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS projects an annual indeterminate State expenditure increase to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming for inmates in State correctional facilities. It is unclear if the DOC would need to hire a new person or would reallocate staff to perform the duties expected under the new position. Per the provisions of the bill, the workforce skills training development officer would be expected to introduce new workforce skills training program offerings to inmates of the facilities. The bill does not offer sufficient information to evaluate the magnitude of the cost increases of these provisions.
By way of background, the DOC received $250,000 in FY
2021 for the expansion of career and technical education for inmates. In
response to an FY 2022 Assembly Budget Committee follow-up question, the
Commissioner noted that this funding would be utilized to establish the
following programs: 1) building trade; 2) horticulture; and 3) a mobile supply
chain management program. Per the FY 2022 Governor’s Budget Recommendation,
this funding continues for FY 2022 as well. The OLS is unable to ascertain
whether the expansion program fulfills the mandate of this bill. Also, it is
unclear whether this funding would be adequate to implement the provisions of
this bill or additional funds would need to be appropriated.
Section: |
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Analyst: |
Associate Research Analyst |
Approved: |
Thomas Koenig 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.).