LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3851

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 12, 2022

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Creates Office of School Bus Safety in Department of Education; appropriates $200,000.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Annually Thereafter 

 

State Cost Increase

Up to $200,000

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that this bill will lead to an expenditure increase of up to $200,000 in FY 2022.  Annual costs to operate the Office of School Bus Safety in the years thereafter are indeterminate, although the OLS expects that the State will experience similar costs as those experienced in FY 2022.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill creates the Office of School Bus Safety in the Department of Education. The purpose of the office is to oversee the school busing industry and to coordinate enforcement and accountability among the department, school bus drivers, and school bus contractors. The Commissioner of Education would establish the office, which would consist of individuals qualified by training and experience related to the school bus industry. The bill prescribes a variety of responsibilities for the office relating to the review and collection of information about the school busing industry.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill will cause an indeterminate increase in annual State expenditures to the DOE to provide for the operation of the Office of School Bus Safety. The bill provides for a $200,000 supplemental appropriation for FY 2022. State expenditure increases would stem from costs to operate the office, including costs associated with the salary and benefits of employees of the Office of School Bus Safety, facilities and office space, and materials and supplies.  The OLS notes that costs may be reduced to the extent that existing staff within the DOE are currently qualified to perform some of the functions prescribed in the bill.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Associate Fiscal Analyst

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.).