SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 2082

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 16, 1997

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 2082.

      This bill supplements Title 30 of the Revised Statutes to impose a 10% surcharge on all commissary sales in State and county correctional facilities to generate additional revenues to compensate crime victims pursuant to the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.317 (C.52:4B-1 et seq.) or any other law. A sale subject to the surcharge would not be subject to sales tax.

      Every defendant found guilty of a criminal offense is required by law to pay an assessment to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board (VCCB). The moneys paid into the VCCB's account are used to provide compensation to the victims of crime.

      Although every defendant is assessed a penalty payable to the VCCB, not all of those assessments are paid.

      The VCCB surcharge authorized under this bill will generate additional funds for the VCCB to distribute as compensation to crime victims.