LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 481

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: AUGUST 9, 1996

      Assembly Bill No. 481 of 1996 directs the Attorney General, in consultation with the Crime Prevention Advisory Committee, the county prosecutors, and representatives of the American Association of Retired Persons, to develop and establish a senior citizens crime prevention program.

      The program would consist of information services and educational awareness programs designed to address issues of special concern to senior citizens such as personal safety, home security, and how to avoid scams and swindles; information and training programs relating to the organization and operation of specialized neighborhood watch and crime prevention activities; and programs designed to help local law enforcement departments address the needs of the senior citizens in their communities. County prosecutors would be required to transmit a copy of the program to each local law enforcement department in their counties.

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that enactment of this bill would have a minimal fiscal impact on the State. The Department of Law and Public Safety should be able to establish the program through the use of its current budgeted resources. The program, because of its advisory nature, would not impose significant costs on local governments. However, OLS observes that counties and municipal enforcement departments might incur additional costs by implementing certain initiatives suggested by the program.

      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.