LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4101

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: OCTOBER 6, 2022

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires MVC to prompt applicant for certain documents to enter information into “Next-of-Kin Registry.”

Type of Impact:

Increase in State expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; Department of Law and Public Safety.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual Impact

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate, Marginal

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill would result in an indeterminate, marginal increase in annual expenditures for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) due to the requirement to undertake certain additional actions related to the “Next-of-Kin Registry.”

 

·      Under the bill, the MVC is required to: (1) allow the submission of emergency contact information during certain in-person applications; (2) prompt certain persons to enter information for the “Next-of-Kin Registry,” including certain online applicants and persons using the MVC’s website to schedule certain appointments; and (3) engage in a public awareness campaign relating to the registry.  These requirements would result in a marginal increase in MVC expenditures, which may be wholly or partially supported using existing MVC staff and resources.

 

·         The bill also provides that law enforcement officers would have direct access to information in the registry, subject to reasonable restrictions, and requires the Attorney General to raise awareness among law enforcement agencies and officers regarding the proper use of the registry.  These requirements are also expected to result in a marginal increase in State expenditures, which may also be supported through existing staff and resources.

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the MVC to automatically prompt persons who schedule an appointment online for a validated permit, probationary driver’s license, initial driver’s license, or initial non-driver identification card or who renew a driver’s license or non-driver identification card online, to enter information for the “Next-of-Kin Registry” maintained by the commission.  The bill also requires the commission to allow an individual to submit emergency contact information in person at a commission agency.

      The bill provides that law enforcement officials are required to have direct access to information in the registry.  The bill requires the MVC to engage in a public awareness campaign and coordinate with all other appropriate executive branch departments and agencies to raise public awareness about the registry.  The bill also requires the Attorney General to take appropriate steps to raise awareness among law enforcement agencies and officers on the proper use of the registry.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill would result in a marginal increase in annual State expenditures associated with the requirement to undertake certain additional actions related to the “Next-of-Kin Registry.”  However, the OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the magnitude of these cost increases.

      Under the bill, the MVC is required to: (1) allow the submission of emergency contact information during the process of an in-person application; and (2) prompt certain persons to enter information for the “Next-of-Kin Registry,” including certain online applicants and persons using the MVC’s website to schedule certain appointments. These requirements would result in a marginal increase in MVC expenditures, which may be wholly or partially supported using existing staff and resources.  Notably, the submission of emergency contact information during in-person applications represents an alternative method of submitting information that is already processed by the MVC.  Accordingly, the OLS assumes that the MVC could satisfy this requirement using existing resources.  In contrast, however, the requirement to prompt online applicants to submit information for the registry may require the MVC to undertake technological modifications to its existing online application process.  As a result, these modifications may result in a marginal, but indeterminate, increase in expenditures for the MVC.

      In addition, the bill is expected to increase State expenditures related to the requirements for law enforcement officers to have direct access to information in the registry, subject to reasonable restrictions established by the Attorney General.  Although law enforcement officers currently have access to the information in the registry, law enforcement officers currently do not have direct access to this information.  Importantly, the OLS is unable to determine the manner in which direct access to this information will be provided to law enforcement officials, as well as the degree to which this process may differ from current practices.  Accordingly, the OLS is unable to determine the magnitude of these cost increases, although the OLS also expects these expenses to be wholly or partially supported using existing staff and resources.

      The bill also requires the MVC and Attorney General to engage in certain activities to raise awareness about the registry.  Specifically, the bill requires the MVC to undertake a public awareness campaign and coordinate with other executive agencies concerning the use of the registry.  Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to take appropriate steps to raise awareness among law enforcement agencies and officers concerning the proper use of the registry.  In both cases, these requirements are expected to increase State expenditures.  However, because these expenditures will depend on the manner in which these activities are implemented, the OLS is unable to quantify the fiscal impact of these requirements.  Regardless, the OLS expects the MVC and Attorney General to satisfy these requirements using existing resources.

 

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Joseph A. Pezzulo

Senior Research 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.).