ASSEMBLY, No. 3331

STATE OF NEW JERSEY211th LEGISLATURE

DATED: DECEMBER 13, 2004

SUMMARY

●    The Office of Legislative Services concurs with the Executive estimate.

●    The bill would provide the payment of inmate impact aid to municipalities where the State inmate population in State prisons operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections exceeds 75 percent of the municipal population. The initial municipal impact aid would be phased in at an increase of 20 percent over a five year period. The bill further provides that the base State aid payment rate be recomputed annually to reflect changes in the cost of living.

●    The Department of Corrections states that two municipalities within the State, Chesterfield Township and Maurice River Township would be affected by the provisions of this bill.

●    As of March 12, 2004, the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility and the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, located in Chesterfield Township housed a total of 3,000 inmates. First year municipal impact aid to Chesterfield Township under the bill would total $192,600 in the first year following enactment. Assuming that the population would remain the same, and that the cost of living adjustment would be increased by 2.7 percent, the department estimates that this amount would increase to $395,600 and $609,422 in the second and third years, respectively.

●    As of March 12, 2004, the Bayside State Prison and Southern State Prison, located in Maurice River Township housed a total of 3,809 inmates. First year municipal impact aid to Maurice River Township under the bill would total $244,538 in the first year following enactment. Assuming that the population would remain the same, and that the cost of living adjustment would be increased by 2.7 percent, the department estimates that this amount would increase to $502,281 and $773,746 in the second and third years, respectively.

BILL DESCRIPTION

      Assembly Bill No. 3331 of 2004 would provide the payment of inmate impact aid to municipalities where the State inmate population in State prisons operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections exceeds 75 percent of the municipal population. The initial municipal impact aid would be phased in at an increase of 20 percent over a five year period and then remain at 100 percent. The bill further provides that the base State aid payment rate be recomputed annually to reflect changes in the cost of living.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

      The Department of Corrections states that two municipalities within the State, Chesterfield Township and Maurice River Township would be affected by the provisions of this bill.

      As of March 12, 2004, the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility and the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, located in Chesterfield Township housed a total of 3,000 inmates. The 2000 census indicates that the township population less the correctional population totaled 2,625 individuals. First year municipal impact aid to Chesterfield Township under the bill would total $192,600 in the first year following enactment. Assuming that the population would remain the same, and that the cost of living adjustment would be increased by 2.7 percent, the department estimates that this amount would increase to $395,600 and $609,422 in the second and third years, respectively.

      As of March 12, 4002, the Bayside State Prison and Southern State Prison, located in Maurice River Township housed a total of 3,809 inmates. The 2000 census indicates that the township population less the correctional population totaled 3,225 individuals. First year municipal impact aid to Maurice River Township under the bill would total $244,538 in the first year following enactment. Assuming that the population would remain the same, and that the cost of living adjustment would be increased by 2.7 percent, the department estimates that this amount would increase to $502,281 and $773,746 in the second and third years, respectively.       Total annual municipal aid would amount to $437,138 during the first year following enactment, and increase to $897,881 and $1,383,168 in the second and third years, respectively.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

      The Office of Legislative Services concurs with the Executive estimate.

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.