LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[Second Reprint]
SENATE, No. 2231
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
DATED: NOVEMBER 4, 2020
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Requires person taking written examination for permit to watch video of rights and responsibilities of driver stopped by law enforcement. |
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Type of Impact: |
Increased State expenditures. |
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Agencies Affected: |
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; Department of Law and Public Safety. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
Year 1 |
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Potential State Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the Department of Law and Public Safety and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will incur indeterminate increased costs in the first year after the bill’s effective date to create a video concerning the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer that is required to be shown prior to a person’s taking a written examination for any permit.
· The MVC may also incur additional costs for the additional staff time or personnel and equipment that may be required to show the video as a part of the permit process.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill requires a person to watch a video created by the MVC, in conjunction with the Attorney General, before the person takes a written examination for any permit. Under the bill, the video is to explain the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer. The video is for informational purposes only and is not to be used in any criminal proceeding involving a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that the bill will result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures in the first year after the bill’s effective date.
The MVC, in conjunction with the Attorney General, are required to create a video that explains the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer. A person is required to watch the video prior to taking a written examination for any permit. The MVC and Department of Law and Public Safety will likely incur certain costs to create this video. However, it is not known what resources or associated costs will be required to produce this content.
The bill also requires a person to watch the video prior to taking the written examination for any permit. It is unclear at what point prior to taking the written examination that a person will be required to watch the video, and if it will be possible for the video to be viewed prior to the examination visit. The MVC may incur additional costs as additional staff time or personnel and equipment may be needed to provide a means of viewing the video at an MVC facility as a part of the permit process. The specific additional resources or associated costs that will be needed and whether the MVC already has sufficient resources to provide a means of showing the video at MVC’s regional customer service locations is unclear.
Although not specifically required by the legislation, the MVC may need to update the driver’s manual to include information concerning the rights and responsibilities of a driver stopped by a law enforcement officer and may incur an indeterminate cost to do so in the first year after the bill’s effective date. It is not known how many manuals will need to be reprinted, if any, or to what extent the online driver’s manual will be updated with this information.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Principal Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Frank W. Haines III 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.).