LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 5854

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 21, 2021

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires position of resident advocate at each State veterans’ memorial home.

Type of Impact:

Annual State General Fund expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual

 

 

State Cost Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the enactment of this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).  The increase in State costs would be primarily to provide for the hiring of a full-time resident advocate at each of the three State veterans memorial homes, which would include costs associated with salary and fringe benefits.  The bill may also result in increased State costs to DMVA to the extent that additional staff, materials and supplies, and office space may be needed to support the role of the resident advocate.

·         The increased State costs generally assume the hiring of new employees; however, it is possible that the department would establish this position and appoint an existing employee of the department for the newly created position.  If DMVA appoints an existing employee for the position, the potential annual State costs could be reduced because of the reallocation of existing resources and changing the role of current employees.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish a position to be known as a resident advocate at each State veterans memorial home.  The bill also requires that the resident advocate would have a direct reporting relationship to the director of the division.

      Under the bill, the resident advocate would:

      (1) act as a liaison between the State veterans memorial home and each of the residents at the State veterans memorial home;

      (2) receive complaints from residents at the State veterans memorial home; and

      (3) respond to any concerns or grievances from the residents at the State veterans memorial home and, if appropriate, submit concerns or grievances to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

      The bill also requires the division to develop, publish, and distribute a written and electronic complaint form to be used by the resident advocate to record any received complaints from the residents at the State veterans memorial home and establishes a record retention requirement for those complaints.

      Currently, the three State veterans memorial homes are: the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Menlo Park; the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Vineland, and the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Paramus.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the enactment of this bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures to the DMVA.  The increase in State costs would be primarily to provide for the hiring of a full-time resident advocate at each State veterans memorial home, which would include costs associated with salary and fringe benefits such as health benefits, social security, and participation in the State pension system.  The bill may also result in increased State costs to DMVA to the extent that additional staff, materials and supplies, and office space may be needed to support the role of the resident advocate.  Currently, there are three State veterans memorial homes (the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Menlo Park; the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Vineland, and the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Paramus).  As a result, DMVA would be required to establish three new positions and hire three individuals for those positions.

      While the increased State costs generally assumes the hiring of new employees, it is possible that the department would establish this position and appoint an existing employee of the department for the newly created position.  If that is the case, the potential annual State costs could be reduced because of the reallocation of existing resources and changing the role of current employees.

 

Section:

State Government

Analyst:

Roshard Williams

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.).