ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 2731

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 2731.

      This Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill 2731 supplements Title 30 of the Revised Statutes to impose a 10% surcharge on all commissary sales in State and county correctional facilities to generate additional revenues to compensate crime victims pursuant to the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.) or any other law.

      Currently, each defendant found guilty of a criminal offense is required by law to pay an assessment to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board (VCCB). The moneys paid into the VCCB's account are used to provide compensation to the victims of crime.

      This substitute is identical to Senate Bill No 2082 SCS as amended and reported by this committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The VCCB surcharge authorized under this substitute is expected to generate between $1.2 and $1.5 million annually for the VCCB. When coupled with federal matching funds, the VCCB should have approximately $2 million in new moneys available to compensate crime victims.