FISCAL NOTE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1856

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: SEPTEMBER 5, 1996

      Assembly Bill No. 1856 of 1996 establishes a body vest replacement program for local law enforcement officers. Under the provisions of the bill, the Attorney General would administer a grant program to provide replacement body vests for local law enforcement officers. The program is to operate on a five-year cycle, with approximately 20 percent of the State's nearly 25,000 local law enforcement officers scheduled to receive replacement vests each year. Funding for the program is to come from a $1 fee added to all motor vehicle fines. These moneys are to be forwarded by the court collecting the motor vehicle fine to the State Treasurer and deposited in the "Body Armor Replacement" fund. The money in this fund is to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing grants to local law enforcement agencies for the purchase of new body vests for their officers.

      The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) states that based on information supplied through the Judiciary's database, there will be approximately 3.7 million judgments of convictions for motor vehicle offenses during the first year after the bill's enactment. It is estimated that this number will remain consistent during the second and third year after the bill's enactment.

      The AOC notes that it is estimated that approximately 72 percent of all tickets adjudicated during the first year following enactment would be adjudicated in such a way as to generate a surcharge. It is estimated that during the second year 88 percent of all matters disposed would be eligible for collection of the surcharge, and during the third year 95 percent of all matters disposed would be eligible. Based on this, the AOC adds that approximately $2.66 million would be generated during the first year for the replacement vest program; $3.26 million during the second year; and $3.52 million during the third year. The AOC states that the bill would not generate any revenues for the county or local jurisdiction.

      With regards to the cost of operating the program, the AOC states that it would require a one time expenditure of about $12,000 to $15,000 to reprogram the Automated Traffic System computer program to accommodate the surcharge. There would be no cost to the counties or municipalities.

      The Office of Legislative Services concurs.

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