LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1324

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JULY 18, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 1324 (1R) of 1996 increases certain fees collected by the Department of Health, by the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Law and Public Safety, by the Department of Transportation, by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and by the Department of Agriculture.

      Specifically, the bill increases from $2,000 to $4,000 the maximum fee to be paid to the Department of Health for an application for a license by a health care facility, and any renewal thereof.

      The bill eliminates the current statutory sunset on the annual fee collected by the Division of Motor Vehicles to offset the costs of issuing reflectorized motor vehicle registration plates. The bill makes the fee permanent and increases it from $0.40 to $0.60.

      The bill increases certain fees charged by the Department of Transportation for inspection of autobuses.

      The bill increases various fees collected by the Division of Fish Game and Wildlife for fishing, hunting and game propagation stamps, permits or licenses. The bill also prohibits the use of the moneys in the "hunters' and anglers' fund" for indirect administrative costs and provides for the reduction of the fees increased by this bill if the moneys in the fund are used in the future for indirect administrative costs.

      Finally, the bill increases commercial feed and fertilizer registration and inspection fees collected by the Department of Agriculture.

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that the enactment of this bill may result in additional State revenues of approximately $4,276,000 in Fiscal Year 1997 and $5,776,000 in Fiscal Year 1998, assuming that the number of transactions for which these fees are paid remain relatively stable. This estimate is based on information provided by the various departments authorized to assess and collect the fees contained in this bill.

      According to the Department of Health, the fee increase for health care facility licenses and renewals may generate approximately $1,000,000 in additional revenues annually.

      According to the Division of Motor Vehicles, the fee increase for reflectorized motor vehicle license plates may generate approximately $1.2 million in additional revenues annually.

      According to the Department of Transportation, the fee increases for motorbus inspections may generate approximately $411,000 in additional revenues annually.

      According to the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, the fee increases for fishing, hunting and game propagation licenses may generate approximately $1.5 million in additional revenues in Fiscal Year 1997, and $3 million annually thereafter.

      Finally, according to the Department of Agriculture, the fee increases for commercial feed and fertilizer registrations and inspections may generate approximately $164,500 in additional revenues annually.

      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.