SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1324

with Senate committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 20, 1996

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1324 with amendments.

      Senate Bill No. 1324, as amended, increases certain fees charged by the Department of Transportation for autobus inspections, the fee charged by the Division of Motor Vehicles for reflectorized motor vehicle registration plates, the fee charged by the Department of Health for health care facilities license applications and renewals, fees charged by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection for deposit into the "hunters' and anglers' fund", and fees charged by the Department of Agriculture for certain inspections and licenses.

      The bill increases from $2,000 to $4,000 the maximum fee for an application for a license for a health care facility, and any renewal thereof. According to the Department of Treasury, this increase may generate an additional $1 million annually in State revenues. In addition, the bill eliminates the requirement that a health care facility prepare and review annually a long range plan for health care services compatible with the State Health Plan, and establish and maintain a centralized, coordinated system of discharge planning

      The bill eliminates the current statutory sunset on the annual fee that may be charged by the Division of Motor Vehicles to offset the costs of issuing reflectorized motor vehicle registration plates. The annual maximum fee is raised from $0.40 to $0.60. According to the Department of Treasury, continuation of the annual fee is necessary to meet projected budget needs; the increase may generate an additional $1.2 million annually in State revenues. Since this bill will establish this fee as a permanent funding source for the ongoing costs of issuing reflectorized plates, language in current law requiring the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to recommend a permanent funding source is deleted as no longer necessary

      The bill increases certain fees charged by the Department of Transportation for inspection of autobuses. This increase may generate an additional $411,000 annually in State revenues.

      The bill increases various fees collected by the Division of Fish Game and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection. All the fees increased by this bill are deposited upon collection into the "hunters' and anglers' license fund." It is anticipated that these increases will generate an additional $1.5 million in revenues in Fiscal Year 1997, and $3 million annually thereafter. In addition, the bill 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 for indirect administrative costs.

      Finally, the bill increases commercial feed and fertilizer registration and inspection fees collected by the Department of Agriculture. It is anticipated that these increases will generate approximately $164,539 in additional revenues annually.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to:

* Correct the amount of the increase for certain fees collected by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife.

* Lower the amount of the increases for motorbus inspections fees so that the additional revenues will generate approximately $411,000 annually.

* Eliminate the increase in fees for milk dealer licenses.

* Prohibit the use of the "hunters' and anglers' fund" for indirect administrative costs and provide for the reduction of the fees increased by this bill if the moneys in the fund are used for indirect administrative costs.

FISCAL IMPACT

      This bill may generate through the increase in various State fees an additional $4,276,000 in revenues for Fiscal Year 1997.