LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 1477
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
DATED: FEBRUARY 16, 2022
SUMMARY
Synopsis: |
Increases allowance paid to war veterans with certain service-connected disabilities. |
Type of Impact: |
Annual expenditure increase to the State General Fund. |
Agencies Affected: |
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. |
Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
FY 2025 |
|
State Cost |
$97,125 |
$194,250 |
$194,250 |
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|
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the incremental State cost to provide the higher annual allowance to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities to be $194,250 per year. Costs would be higher or lower each year depending upon the number of veterans who are eligible to receive the allowance.
· As of March 2021, there were 185 blind and otherwise disabled veterans receiving an allowance under the Blind Veterans’ Allowance Program and the Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans’ Allowance Program. Veterans may be eligible for both allowance payments.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill would increase the annual payments that are made by the State to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities to $1,800.
Currently, a blind veteran receives $750 annually under the Blind Veterans’ Allowance Program. A veteran with certain other disabilities also receives $750 annually under the Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans’ Allowance Program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that the incremental State cost to provide the higher annual allowance to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities to be $194,250 per year. This bill would increase the annual payments by the State to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities to $1,800 from $750 currently.
As of March 2021, there were 185 blind and otherwise disabled veterans receiving an allowance under the Blind Veterans’ Allowance Program and the Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans’ Allowance Program. Veterans may be eligible for both allowance payments.
The total cost to provide 185 annual allowances at the $1,800 level to eligible blind and disabled veterans is $333,000. The increase in the allowance as provided for in this bill is $1,050 ($1,800 - $750) per eligible veteran. Thus, this bill would increase the State’s cost to provide an annual allowance to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities by $194,250.
Costs would be higher or lower each year depending upon the number of veterans who are eligible to receive the allowance.
Section: |
State Government |
Analyst: |
Principal Counsel |
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.).