SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 490

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 490.

      Presently, the salary of county prosecutors is set at $100,000.00. The bill would increase this salary to $115,000.00. The bill contains language providing for an annual appropriation to the Department of Community Affairs to reimburse the counties for any additional costs resulting from any increase in the salary of county prosecutors above $100,000.00.

      To cover the salary increase for this year, the bill would appropriate $157,000.00 to Community Affairs. If enacted the bill would be retroactive to January 1, 1996.

      As introduced the bill amended several statutes governing the salaries of first assistant prosecutors, county prosecutor's principal assistants and assistant county prosecutors which establish ranges for those salaries based on the county prosecutor's salary. The amendments adopted by the committee would repeal those statutes and substitute a provision indicating that the annual salaries of first assistant prosecutors and other assistant prosecutors be set by the board of freeholders of each county in consultation with the county prosecutor.