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

Fiscal Impact

 

 

 

 

Annual State Cost Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·         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:

Judiciary

Analyst:

Anuja Pande Joshi

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.).