FISCAL NOTE TO


ASSEMBLY, No. 891


STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: APRIL 2, 1997

 

 

      Assembly Bill No. 891 of 1996 establishes an osteoporosis prevention and education program in the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The purpose of the program is to promote the following: public awareness of the causes of osteoporosis; options for prevention; and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments.

      The bill also establishes an Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services on the development and implementation of this program. The members of the council would be appointed by the commissioner, and would include the Director of the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Directors of the Division on Women and the Division on Aging in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), as ex officio members, and various public members representing osteoporosis and health related organizations and professions. The members of the council would serve without compensation and would not be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties. (The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that following the introduction of this bill, the Division on Aging in DCA was eliminated and the Division of Senior Affairs in DHSS was created, thus the membership slot for the Director of the Division on Aging would most likely be filled by the Assistant Commissioner of Senior Affairs.)

      The DHSS and the Office of Management and Budget have estimated the cost of implementing this legislation at $68,000, $71,000 and $73,000 in each of the next three fiscal years, respectively. This includes salary costs of $57,000, $60,000 and $62,000, over the next three fiscal years, for a full-time public health consultant. The remainder includes costs for materials and supplies and other services, such as data processing, telephone and travel.

      The OLS notes that the DHSS received $270,000 in the FY 1997 appropriations act for an "Interagency Council on Osteoporosis." To date, this council has not been formed, and the department has formulated a plan for the expenditure of these funds to facilitate, develop and implement Statewide osteoporosis education and awareness activities. Many of these activities duplicate those required in the program established by this bill. In addition, as the bill establishes an Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Advisory Council that has the expertise to advise the department on the implementation of the osteoporosis program, the OLS does not believe a full-time public health consultant is necessary for the purposes of this bill. In addition, the various other administrative costs, estimated at $11,000 per year, could be absorbed within the current appropriation for osteoporosis activities. Thus, no additional State funds would be needed to implement this bill.

 

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.