LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

SENATE, No. 1546

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 3, 1996

Bill Summary:

      Senate Bill No. 1546 of 1996 requires that the training requirements for appointed Human Services police officers include a course (approved by the Police Training Commission) which prepares the officers to handle patients with violent criminal backgrounds and abusive situations between employees and patients, and among patients. Newly appointed officers would have to complete the training course within one year of the legislation's effective date while current officers would have 18 months to satisfy the training requirements.

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:

      The Office of Legislative Services is not able to determine whether the legislation entails any new cost to the State. If the new training requirement can replace an existing training requirement, no additional cost would be incurred with respect to Human Services police officers who are appointed after the new training requirement is adopted.

      At this time neither the cost associated with the new training requirement nor the amount of time needed to satisfy the new training requirement is known. As such, the cost to DHS in terms of both the training course itself and the amount of time off that might have to be granted existing Human Services police officers to complete such training 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.