LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3080

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 11, 2023

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in DOE, and the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force.

Type of Impact:

Potential State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual 

 

 

Potential State Cost Increase

 

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill may lead to an indeterminate increase in State costs to the Department of Education.  The potential increase in State costs would be dependent on decisions made by the Commissioner of Education with respect to the number of people who would staff the newly created Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth and the corresponding salary ranges. 

·         The bill may also cause an additional, minimal State expenditure increase to reimburse members of the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes the Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth in the Department of Education.  The bill requires the office to collaborate with school districts in the development of a Statewide strategic plan to address the problem of student dropouts, recommend and develop programs to prevent students from dropping out of school, and address issues associated with the reenrollment of students who have left school prior to graduation.

      The bill also establishes the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force to analyze the causes of students leaving school prior to graduation, recommend to school districts best practices for reducing the student dropout rate, and develop strategies to increase the reenrollment of students who have left school.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill may lead to an indeterminate increase in State costs to the Department of Education.  The potential increase in State costs would be dependent on decisions made by the Commissioner of Education with respect to the number of people who would staff the newly created Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth and the corresponding salary ranges.  It is also possible that the commissioner would staff the office by reallocating current personnel, thereby avoiding a potential increase in expenditures.  While the OLS does not have the informational basis by which to forecast the salary range of employees in a new Office of Dropout Prevention and Reengagement of Out-of-School Youth, the average annual salary for a full-time employee in the Department of Education, according to the Civil Service Commission’s “State Government 2022 Workforce Profile,” is $93,559.  

      The bill may cause an additional minimal State expenditure increase to reimburse members of the Student Dropout Prevention Task Force for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  There may be additional expenditures associated with the department providing staffing services to the task force.   

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Senior 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.).