LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 5814
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 29, 2021
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Creates School Bus Safety Ombudsman position in, but not of, Department of Education. |
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Type of Impact: |
Annual State Expenditure Increase |
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Agencies Affected: |
Office of the School Bus Safety Ombudsman; Department of Education |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
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State Expenditure Increase |
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Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the bill will cause an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures for the establishment and continued operation of the Office of the School Bus Safety Ombudsman. Under the bill, the office will be in, but not of, the Department of Education. In addition to hiring the School Bus Safety Ombudsman, there will be costs associated with hiring staff to perform the duties of the office, costs associated with securing facilities, and ongoing administrative and operational costs of the office. It is not known how many staff members will be needed to adequately perform the duties of the office, nor the salaries of the hired staff. The operational, administrative, and maintenance costs associated with the establishment of a new office are also unknown.
· OLS concludes that there will be indeterminate costs associated with the establishment and ongoing operation of a publicly accessibly database that compiles the violations and subsequent fines of school bus drivers, school bus contractors that employ the school bus drivers, and the owners, operators, or any officers associated with the school bus contractor.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill creates the Office of the School Bus Safety Ombudsman in, but not of, the Department of Education, the purpose of which is to monitor and administer all school bus safety and oversight activities. The School Bus Safety Ombudsman will be appointed by the Governor
The bill also requires the ombudsman to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission which includes a summary of the services provided, and enforcement actions taken, by the ombudsman during the school year, and any specific recommendations the ombudsman deems appropriate and necessary concerning the oversight and management within the ombudsman’s purview.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that the bill will cause an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures for the establishment and continued operation of the Office of the School Bus Safety Ombudsman. Under the bill, the office will be in, but not of, the Department of Education. In addition to hiring the School Bus Safety Ombudsman, there will be costs associated with hiring staff to perform the duties of the office, costs associated with securing facilities, and ongoing administrative and operational costs of the office. It is not known how many staff members will be needed to adequately perform the duties of the office, nor the salaries of the hired staff. The operational, administrative, and maintenance costs associated with the establishment of a new office, including the establishment and ongoing operation of a publicly accessible database that compiles the violations and subsequent fines related to school bus safety pursuant to the bill, are also unknown.
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Section: |
Education |
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Analyst: |
Lead Research Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
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 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).