ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2835

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 9, 1997

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2835.

      Assembly Bill No. 2835 lists "Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey," the State affiliate of the "Partnership for a Drug Free America," as one of the programs to be funded annually from the proceeds in the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction (DEDR) fund. Current law lists the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and its administration by the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the "Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Program for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Disabled" established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.318 (C.26:2B-37), and other alcohol and drug abuse programs. The bill does not provide a specific amount to be appropriated annually for any of these listed programs.       However, the bill does provide an initial appropriation of $350,000 from the DEDR fund to the new program, "Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey."

      The "Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey," the State affiliate of the "Partnership for a Drug Free America," is a nonprofit coalition of professionals whose mission is to reduce the demand for and incidence of substance abuse in New Jersey through a Statewide media campaign. The Statewide media campaign is designed to influence attitudes about illicit drugs and alcohol abuse complete with tracking research to measure effectiveness. The "Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey" is staffed by three employees and has an annual budget of approximately $7 million received through corporate donations, foundation grants and in-kind contributions. The Department of Health and Senior Services provides approximately $119,000 annually.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1990.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill appropriates $350,000 from the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction fund to the "Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey."