LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1779

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 2, 1997

      Senate Bill No. 1779 (1R) of 1997 requires owners or operators of public water systems who periodically test the water from these systems for contaminants, pursuant to federal or State law, to annually notify their customers, by mail, of the results of these tests. Such written notification should include a list of the contaminants found in the water and the acceptable levels of these contaminants. According to the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.), a public water system is defined as a system for the provision of piped water for human consumption with at least 15 service connections or regularly serving at least 25 individuals.

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that the bill's enactment would have no fiscal impact on the State Budget. The Department of Environmental Protection, which would be responsible for enforcing the bill's provisions, should incur no additional costs because existing staff should be able to handle this responsibility within the normal course of their duties. With respect to municipalities that own public water systems, they should incur only nominal expenses in providing the required information to their customers, which could be included in periodic billing statements.

      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.