FISCAL NOTE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1822

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: SEPTEMBER 24, 1996

      Assembly Bill No. 1822 of 1996 requires every county governing body, by ordinance or resolution, whichever is appropriate, to establish a 9-1-1 locatable mailing address system pursuant to the provisions of the bill. Under such a system, no two municipalities in a county would be permitted to have exactly the same name, and a mechanism would be provided to be used by counties to effectuate a locatable mailing address system.

      The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has advised the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) that its Division of Fire Safety is unable to determine the cost of establishing this system. The Division of Fire Safety has neither the information nor the resources to determine the cost to municipalities and counties of compliance with the requirements of the bill. The DCA notes that whether municipal names or street names will have to be changed or municipal tax maps altered to reflect any necessary changes can only be determined by the local governments to which tax maps and municipal and county addresses are available.

      The OLS agrees with DCA's conclusion that it is not possible to estimate a cost to local governments of compliance with the bill's requirements. The OLS anticipates that State funds will be affected only if and when specific data bases will be converted to the new addresses. These amounts cannot be estimated at this time.

      The OLS notes that most municipalities already have some system for addressing buildings and streets. It is impossible for the OLS to estimate the dollar value of researching, reviewing, and changing to the 9-1-1 locatable address system, and making changes to the tax maps, house numbering maps, and the 9-1-1 maps. Copies must also be made for U.S. Post Offices and emergency services, and the municipalities must inform all residents and businesses of the changes. The OLS anticipates that the research involved to accomplish the requirements of this bill may be very expensive, not only for the State but also the counties and municipalities. Changes in the names of streets, due to duplication, and allocating space and flexibility for maximum density will be an expensive result of the enactment of this bill.

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