LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO


SENATE, No. 1540


STATE OF NEW JERSEY


DATED: DECEMBER 13, 1996


 

      Bill Summary:

      Senate Bill No. 1540 of 1996 requires the Commissioner of Human Services to designate staff who are not employed at a State psychiatric facility to review the daily operation of the State psychiatric facilities by conducting unannounced site visits to randomly check staffing on the various shifts at a State psychiatric facility, at least three times during a calendar year. The bill requires the commissioner to provide and implement surveillance procedures, including but not limited to, the use of security cameras and the use of persons to perform covert investigations of the daily operation of the facility.

 

      Agency Comments:

      The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of Management and Budget have not provided any fiscal information on the legislation.

 

      Office of Legislative Services Comments:

      As there are seven State psychiatric facilities, at least 21 unannounced site visits would have to be conducted annually. The number of personnel and type of personnel that would be involved in such unannounced site visits are not known at this time, but as such personnel are likely to be reassigned from other DHS or other State agencies responsibilities, no new costs should be incurred. Similarly, having persons perform covert investigations of the daily operation of the facility would involve the reassignment of existing personnel to conduct such covert investigations and, thus, should not involve any new costs.

      Using security cameras to implement surveillance procedures may require the purchase of additional security cameras. However, the cost associated with the purchase of and installation of additional cameras cannot be determined.

 

      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.