ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1003

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 13, 1996

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1003 (1R).

      Assembly Bill No. 1003 (1R) establishes a Council on Undocumented Aliens in the Department of Labor. The council is responsible for making a study of various aspects of the undocumented alien population in the State, including, but not limited to, the impact of this population on the employment opportunities of persons legally resident in this State; and recommending remedial action or legislation to the department or Legislature, or both, as appropriate, with respect to the findings of the council. The council is made up of 14 public members and the Commissioner of Labor, ex officio, or his designee, as chair. Public members are to be representative of various segments of the State. Of the public members, two are to be appointed by the President of the Senate, two by the Speaker of the Assembly and 10 by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The council is to submit a report to the Labor Commissioner and the Legislature within three years from its first meeting.

      This bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 208 (1R), as reported by this committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      On the fiscal note to a similar bill last session (S-303 (2R)), the Department of Labor stated that it would be difficult, if not impossible to survey and estimate this population. The department did estimate a cost of approximately $34,000 to $37,000 for staff to the Council. The Office of Legislative Service did not concur with the estimate.