ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 891

with Assembly committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 891, with committee amendments.

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

      The bill also establishes an Interagency Council on Osteoporosis to advise the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services on the development and implementation of the program. The bill requires that the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, on the activities of the program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The department has estimated the cost of implementing this legislation at $68,000 in the first year, $71,000 in the second, and $73,000 in the third. The Office of Legislative Services notes that the department received $270,000 in FY 1997 for an "Interagency Council on Osteoporosis." To date this council has not been formed. The department has formulated a plan for the expenditures of these funds.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments are technical in nature to reflect the name of the department, a change in the name of a division, and the name of the council.