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

Fiscal Impact

FY 2023 

FY 2024 

FY 2025 

 

State Cost

$97,125

$194,250

$194,250

 

 

 

 

·         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:

Tracey Pino

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.).