SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1381

with Senate committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 24, 1996

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No.1381 with amendments.

      Senate Bill No.1381, as amended, establishes an additional application fee of $5 for a person taking an open competitive or promotional civil service examination for a position in State service. This additional fee would only take effect if the Department of Personnel implements a displaced workers pool program; the revenue generated by the fee will be appropriated to support that program. If in the future the program is terminated, the additional $5 fee also will be terminated.

      The displaced worker pool program will provide temporary work for State employees who have been laid off, until such time as a permanent position becomes available.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to restrict the additional fee only to applicants for positions in State service and to activate the fee only if the State implements a displaced workers pool program. The amendments provide for the termination of the fee if the program is ever eliminated.

FISCAL IMPACT

      The Department of Personnel estimates that the additional fee in this bill will generate approximately $208,000 annually.