LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO


SENATE, No. 957


STATE OF NEW JERSEY


DATED: AUGUST 2, 1996


 

      Senate Bill No. 957 of 1996 requires the Commissioner of Human Services (DHS) to establish a high technology finger imaging identification program in the Division of Family Development to be implemented by county and municipal welfare agencies for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program (subject to federal approval) and the General Assistance (GA) program.

 

Agency Comments:

      DHS and the Office of Management and Budget have not provided any current fiscal information on the legislation. However, DHS has indicated that as part of its proposed Work First NJ program, it intended to implement a Statewide finger imaging identification system for the AFDC and GA programs to be funded from available appropriations.

 

Office of Legislative Services Comments:

      The Office of Legislative Services is not able to determine the cost of implementing and operating a finger imaging identification system for the AFDC and GA programs until DHS issues a Request for Proposal and until bids are received and evaluated. As DHS has indicated that the cost of implementing and operating a finger imaging system would be supported by existing financial resources, there would be no additional cost to the State. It is further noted that DHS has already implemented a pilot finger imaging program for GA recipients and applicants in 103 municipalities within Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties. Information on the cost-effectiveness of the pilot finger imaging system is not available.

      This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

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