SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 598

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2021

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 598 (1R).

      This bill increases the compensation of election workers from $200 per day to $400 per day or the State minimum wage, whichever is greater.

      Under current law, election workers are paid $200 per day each time the primary election, the general election, or any special election is held.  The State reimburses $125 of the payment to election workers while the counties account for the rest.  This bill increases the State’s reimbursement while keeping the counties’ sum at $75.

      The bill appropriates from the State General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $5,000,000 to reimburse the counties for the costs of implementing the bill’s provisions.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments proposed:

      (1)  increase the pay for election workers from $275 per day to $400 per day or the State minimum wage, whichever is greater;

      (2)  clarify that the Secretary of State handles election reimbursement matters rather than the Attorney General; and

      (3)  revises the reimbursement formula to the counties to clarify that counties will only be responsible for $75 of an election worker’s pay.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information is currently unavailable for this bill.