SENATE, No. 1323
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED JUNE 13, 1996
By Senator LaROSSA
A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 1995 (P.L.1995, c.164).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.1995, c.164, there are appropriated out of the General Fund the following sums for the purposes specified:
DIRECT STATE SERVICES 26 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice 16 Detention and Rehabilitation 7025 System-Wide Program Support |
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07-7025 Institutional Control and Supervision ...................................... |
$24,400,000 |
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Total Appropriation, System-Wide Program Support ............................. |
$24,400,000 |
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Special Purpose: |
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Increased Operating Costs ...................................... |
($24,400,000) |
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From the amount appropriated hereinabove for Increased Operating Costs, such sums as shall be determined by the Commissioner of Corrections shall be transferred to other accounts within the department.
94 INTER-DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS 70 Government Direction, Management and Control 74 General Government Services 9410 Employee Benefits |
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03-9410 Employee Benefits .................................................................... |
$15,950,000 |
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Total Appropriation, Employee Benefits ...................................... |
$15,950,000 |
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Special Purpose: |
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State Employees' Health Benefits .......................... |
($15,950,000) |
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GRANTS-IN-AID 26 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 10 Public Safety and Criminal Justice 16 Detention and Rehabilitation 7025 System-Wide Program Support--Grants-In-Aid |
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13-7025 Institutional Program Support ............................................... |
$16,100,000 |
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Total Appropriation, System-Wide Program Support ............................. |
$16,100,000 |
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Grants: |
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Purchase of Services for Inmates Incarcerated In County Penal Facilities ................................ |
($16,100,000) |
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46 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 20 Physical and Mental Health 22 Health Planning and Evaluation--Grants-In-Aid |
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07-4270 Health Care Planning, Financing and Information Services .. |
$58,000,000 |
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Total Appropriation, Health Planning and Evaluation ................. |
$58,000,000 |
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Grants: |
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Health Access New Jersey Program ................... |
($22,500,000) |
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Charity Care Hospital Payments ......................... |
(35,500,000) |
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The amounts appropriated hereinabove for the Health Access New Jersey Program and for Charity Care Hospital Payments shall be transferred to the credit of the Health Care Subsidy Fund established pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.58).
Total Appropriation, General Fund ....................................................... |
$114,450,000 |
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 1996 of $40.4 million for the Department of Corrections, $15.95 million for State Employees' Health Benefits in the Inter-Departmental Accounts and $58 million for the Department of Health. The Department of Corrections appropriations consist of $24.4 million in Direct State Services funding and approximately $16 million in Grants-In-Aid funding. The Department of Corrections' Direct State Services appropriation will primarily cover additional custody overtime costs due to higher than anticipated institutional inmate population growth, increased overtime associated with the severe winter weather, and reduction initiatives that have produced less savings in fiscal year 1996 than had been projected.
The Department of Corrections' Grants-In-Aid appropriation is required due to inmate population increases that have been substantially higher than those budgeted for, causing an increase in the number of State-sentenced inmates housed by counties and awaiting placement in State facilities. The fiscal year 1996 appropriations act assumed a net monthly increase of 125 inmates for fiscal year 1996 but the actual net monthly average increase for the first nine months has been 264.
When the budget recommendations for fiscal year 1997 were prepared the fiscal year 1996 appropriation for State Employees' Health Benefits was adjusted to reflect a $24.7 million supplemental appropriation need because the State health benefits legislation, P.L.1996, c.8, was not enacted in time to affect the fiscal year 1996 State budget. P.L.1996, c.8, enacted on March 21, 1996, is not effective until fiscal year 1997. Other cost savings have reduced the supplemental appropriation need for State Employees' Health Benefits to the current $15,950,000.
The supplemental appropriations of $58,000,000 for the Department of Health consist of: (1) an appropriation of $22,500,000 for the Health Access New Jersey program that will provide $10,000,000 for calendar year 1996 funding and $12,500,000 for one-half of the $25,000,000 calendar year 1997 funding required pursuant to P.L.1996, c.29, and (2) an appropriation of $35,500,000 for Charity Care Hospital payments that will provide $15,000,000 from the General Fund in calendar year 1996, and $20,500,000 for one-half of the $41,000,000 from the General Fund in calendar year 1997 required pursuant to P.L.1996, c.28. The Department of Health appropriations will ensure timely payments to hospitals under this program. The unexpended balances will be reappropriated into fiscal year 1997. When added to employer and employee payroll contributions, this supplemental appropriation will fully fund Health Access New Jersey, charity care and the Hospital Relief Fund through June 30, 1997.
Makes fiscal year 1996 supplemental appropriations of $40.5 million for Department of Corrections, $15.95 million for State Employees' Health Benefits, and $58.0 million for Department of Health.