FISCAL NOTE TO


[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 691


STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: DECEMBER 29, 1997

 

 

      Senate Bill No. 691 (1R) of 1996 authorizes probation officers to carry a firearm provided the carrying is in accordance with rules adopted by the Supreme Court and requires them to complete a police training program approved by the Police Training Commission. Upon receiving such training, they will be authorized to arrest, detain and transport probationers and enforce the criminal laws of the State during the performance of their duties, subject to rules adopted by the Supreme Court. The bill appropriates $3 million for the costs of implementation.

      The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) states that costs would be incurred for the development of a curriculum, training in weapons use, weapons and ammunition purchases, and medical examinations required for training and facilities.

      The AOC notes that Statewide, approximately 1,800 probation staff would be eligible for the training proposed by the bill. It is estimated that the AOC would accomplish this training over a three-year period, training about 600 probation officers per year. At a cost of $3,100 per officer for training, medical exams and firearms and ammunition, the AOC states that this bill would cost about $1.86 million during the first year, $2 million during the second year, and $2.2 million during the third year, for a three-year cost of $6 million.

      The AOC further notes that it would be necessary to withdraw 600 probation officers from their posts for 18 weeks for training. This would result in a loss of 280 hours of staff time per officer, or 168,000 total hours each year. The department notes that a conservative estimate of 20 percent of the lost work time would need to be replaced through overtime, at an annual cost of about $1 million.

      Staff and overhead costs for the operation of the program is estimated to be $242,000 for the first full year of operation, and the first year cost of the program would be $3 million. Second and third year costs would increase to about $3.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

      The Office of Management and Budget agrees with the AOC estimates concerning training and program operation costs. However, OMB states that the overtime cost estimate generated by the AOC may be too low. It estimates that the AOC would be required to fill 85 percent of the lost work hours through overtime rather than 20 percent, for a first full year overtime cost of $3.9 million. Second and third year overtime expenses would total $4.1 and $4.3 million, respectively, for total costs of $6 million, $6.3 million and $6.7 million during the three-year operation of the program.

      The Office of Legislative Services concurs with the OMB modification of the AOC estimates.

 

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