ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4031

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2023

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4031 (1R).

      This bill requires the Food Security Advocate to establish and maintain, in the Office of the Food Security Advocate, a food rescue hotline that is designed to:  (1) receive and respond to requests, whether by telephone, in-person, or via electronic or other means, as authorized by the Food Security Advocate, from individuals or organizations that are seeking to donate large quantities of food; and (2) direct each such individual or organization requesting hotline assistance to an appropriate food bank, and to other appropriate community resources and organizations, in order to facilitate the delivery of the donated food to an appropriate location. 

The bill requires the Food Security Advocate to engage in a public awareness campaign, using all available media, including television, radio, print, the Internet, and social media, to inform the public about the availability and purpose of the food rescue hotline.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the Office of the Food Security Advocate would realize higher annual costs, in an amount ranging from $235,000 to $1.2 million, in order to establish the food rescue hotline and engage in a public awareness campaign on the availability and purpose of the hotline. 

      The OLS estimates that the Office of the Food Security Advocate will spend between $90,000 and $1.0 million on the public awareness campaign regarding the food rescue hotline, depending upon the scope of the campaign.  This estimate falls within the range of costs for similar public awareness initiatives.   

      The OLS also assumes that the Office of the Food Security Advocate would require one additional full-time equivalent employee, at an annual cost of $145,000, inclusive of fringe benefits, to manage and respond to incoming calls on the food rescue hotline, and to compile, update, and disseminate information regarding organizations in the State that will accept large quantities of donated food.