LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 2924
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 24, 2021
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Creates two-year “Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program” in Juvenile Justice Commission; appropriates $4.2 million in FY 2022 and FY 2023. |
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Type of Impact: |
Two-year State and local government expenditure increase; two-year local government revenue increase. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Law and Public Safety; Superior Courts; Office of the Public Defender; County Prosecutors; Certain County Law Enforcement Agencies; Certain County Youth Services Commissions. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
Two-Year Duration of the Pilot Program |
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State Expenditure Increase |
Up to $8.4 Million |
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Local Expenditure Increase |
Indeterminate |
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Local Revenue Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill will result in an increase in State expenditures of up to $8.4 million over two years to fund the grants under the pilot program. The Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) in the Department of Law and Public Safety may also experience indeterminate workload increases to establish, administer, and report on the status of the program.
· Additionally, certain participating county youth services commissions may experience indeterminate cost increases over the two years from the: a) solicitation of proposals from interested persons and organizations; b) administration and review of proposals; c) requirement to hold public meetings; and d) collaboration with local service providers, including establishing restorative justice hubs. The bill allows that up to 15 percent of monies in the dedicated Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program Fund to be used by the county youth services commissions for administrative purpose, which represents a revenue increase for these local government entities.
· The bill requires the restorative justice hubs created under the program to collaborate with the county youth services commissions, courts, public defenders, prosecutors, law enforcement, and any other appropriate entities or persons, which may lead to marginal cost increases for these entities during the pilot program.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in the JJC, which would assist with the reintegration of youths released from juvenile facilities to prevent repeated involvement with the youth justice system and to help youths avoid any initial involvement with the youth justice system; the program would be titled the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program.
The purpose of the pilot program would be to develop innovative, restorative, and transformative justice continuums of care in four target cities, Camden, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton, that include two components: restorative justice hubs and community-based enhanced reentry wraparound services.
An appropriation from the General Fund of $4.2 million in each of FY 2022 and FY 2023 would fund the temporary dedicated fund to be known as the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program Fund. This fund would distribute grants to selected service providers by the JJC. The bill establishes that no more than eight percent of the monies in the fund may be used for State administrative purposes and no more that 15 percent for county youth services commissions administrative purposes. At the conclusion of the two-year pilot program, any monies remaining in the fund would be transferred to the commission for use in administering the State/Community Partnership Grant Program, and funding grants distributed through that program.
The JJC shall require each participating county to schedule one public meeting to announce the pilot program and inform the public of the adopted rules and regulations for grant applications and distributions.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that this bill will result in an increase in State expenditures of up to $8.4 million over two years to fund the grants under the pilot program. The JJC may also experience indeterminate workload increases during the two years from the: a) establishment of the pilot program; b) administration of grants from the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program Fund; and c) requirement to compile and submit status reports. Additionally, Camden, Essex, Mercer, and Passaic county youth services commissions will experience workload increases under the pilot program from the: a) solicitation of proposals from interested persons and organizations; b) administration and review of proposals; c) requirement to hold public meetings; and d) collaboration with local service providers, including establishing restorative justice hubs to support the municipalities of Camden, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton. Similarly, the bill requires the restorative justice hubs created under the program to collaborate with the county youth services commissions, courts, public defenders, prosecutors, law enforcement, and any other appropriate entities or persons, which may lead to marginal cost increases for these entities in the affected municipalities during the pilot program.
A maximum of eight percent of the monies in the fund may be used for JJC administrative purposes and a maximum of 15 percent may be used for county youth services commission administrative purposes, which represents revenue increases for these local government entities.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Lead Fiscal Analyst |
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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.).