ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2619

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 24, 2024

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2619 (1R).

      This bill prohibits a legislative aide who works directly for a member of the Legislature in a district office from making a political contribution or giving other things of value greater than $30 to that legislator.  It also prohibits the legislator or an individual associated with the legislator’s candidate committee or joint candidates committee from soliciting or knowingly accepting such contribution.

      Specifically, the bill provides that an individual who is employed, either full-time or part-time, by a member of the Legislature to work in the legislative district office of that legislator as an aide, personal assistant, manager, advisor or secretary, or is otherwise compensated directly by that legislator for activities or services regarding legislative duties, cannot make a contribution of money or other thing of value greater than $30 to the legislator’s candidate committee or joint candidates committee.

      The bill provides that any individual found to be in violation of these restrictions is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, which is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the bill may result in a periodic State expenditure increase for the Department of Law and Public Safety to prosecute additional cases and the Judiciary to adjudicate additional complaints.  Due to the limited scope of the bill’s provisions, it is unlikely that the workload for the department or the Judiciary will alter in any significant way. 

      The State may receive indeterminate revenue from fines imposed on individuals convicted of this crime; however the State’s ability to collect fines has been historically limited.