LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 2288
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 26, 2024
SUMMARY
|
Synopsis: |
Establishes Office of Learning Loss Czar. |
|
Type of Impact: |
Annual State expenditure increase. |
|
Agencies Affected: |
Department of Education. |
|
Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
||
|
Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
|
|
State Expenditure Increase |
$260,000 to $650,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill would result in an annual State expenditure increase for the establishment and operation of the Office of the Learning Loss Czar. The expenditure increase would be primarily derived from the payment of salaries and benefits to staff.
· The OLS estimates that annual staffing costs for the office would range from $260,000, assuming the payment of salaries and benefits is for just the Learning Loss Czar position, to $650,000, assuming the czar and three additional staff members are hired.
· The OLS determines there would also be additional indeterminate annual costs for other operating expenses of the new office.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes the Office of the Learning Loss Czar in, but not of, the Department of Education. The office is tasked with collaborating with the Commissioner of Education to analyze and address learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The duties include: identifying effective educational products, strategies, and services, with a focus on addressing learning loss experienced by students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities; creating and maintaining a resource bank of the identified products, explanations of and instructions for implementing the identified strategies and services, and models of professional development programs related to using the products and implementing the strategies and services; identifying public and private entities to partner with school districts; providing technical assistance to school districts; supporting grant application processes related to learning loss for school districts and the Department of Education; and cooperating with institutions of higher education in researching and analyzing data on learning loss.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that the establishment of the Office of the Learning Loss Czar will result in an annual State expenditure increase that is primarily derived from the payment of salaries and benefits to staff. In estimating these staffing costs, the OLS notes that according to an Office of Management and Budget circular, the applicable fringe benefit rate for personnel who are members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System is 60.8 percent of bases salaries. The OLS assumes that the Learning Loss Czar position will have a maximum total compensation of $257,280, which is comprised of a base salary of $160,000 and fringe benefits of $97,280. Each additional staff member is estimated to have a total compensation of $128,873, which is comprised of a base salary of $80,145 and fringe benefits of $48,728. Therefore, the total estimated staffing costs for the office would range from $260,000, assuming the payment of salaries and benefits is for just the Learning Loss Czar position, to $650,000, assuming the czar and three additional staff members are hired.
The OLS determines there would also be additional indeterminate annual costs for the operating expenses of the new office. For example, these expenses could include securing appropriate office space, the magnitude of which would depend on the availability of existing office space within the Department of Education.
|
Section: |
Education |
|
Analyst: |
Assistant 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.).