LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1447

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 9, 1997

      Assembly Bill No. 1447 (1R) of 1996 establishes an "alternate route" to appointment as a local law enforcement officer. It would permit persons who meet the general qualifications for that position to complete the statutorily required Police Training Commission course before being hired. Current law requires such persons to be appointed on a probationary or temporary basis before enrolling in the training course.

      Under the bill, the cost of training would be paid by the trainee but could be reimbursed by a municipality, at its discretion. The bill authorizes the Department of Personnel to provide to civil service municipalities a list of persons who successfully complete alternate route training in lieu of the normal civil service eligibility list.

      This bill would codify a pilot alternate route program administered by the commission since 1993. The program has resulted in savings to municipalities which have elected to have trainees pay their own training costs. Municipalities have also saved money by not having to pay the salary and benefits costs of trainees during the 16 to 20 week training period.

      Information provided by the commission indicates that approximately 110 persons were trained under the "alternate route" pilot program in 1996. Based on cost data from four training academies and estimates of beginning officers' salary and benefit costs for four months, the commission estimated an average savings to employing municipalities of approximately $12,500 for each alternate route graduate hired. The Office of Legislative Services concurs with this estimate and observes that municipalities are likely to achieve savings of this magnitude under the terms of this bill.

      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.