LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 3176

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MAY 20, 2024

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes and allocates funds for program to provide mental health services to veterans; appropriates $2 million.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1 

Year 2 and Thereafter 

 

State Expenditure Increase

Up to $2 million

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that the bill may result in a State cost increase of up to $2 million in the first year the bill is in effect for a new grant program to provide mental health services to veterans.  If the full $2 million is not expended in the first year, the residual amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $2 million is exhausted.

 

·         Future year costs to the State are indeterminate and will depend on the number and dollar amount of grants awarded to recognized veterans’ organizations to provide mental health services to veterans.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to establish a program to provide grants to recognized veterans organizations to provide mental health services to veterans.    The bill defines recognized veterans organizations as a veteran organization that qualifies as a section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt organization under the federal Internal Revenue Code, a federally chartered Veterans’ Service Organization, the New Jersey Veterans Stakeholders Group, or the New Jersey Catholic Charities Diocese.

      The bill appropriates $2 million from the State General Fund for the purpose of providing the grants.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS determines that the bill may result in a State cost increase of up to $2 million in the first year the bill is in effect for a new grant program to provide mental health services to veterans.  If the full $2 million is not expended in the first year, the residual amount will be spent in subsequent fiscal years until the full $2 million is exhausted.

      Future year costs to the State are indeterminate and will depend on the number and dollar amount of grants awarded to recognized veterans’ organizations to provide mental health services to veterans.

      The bill would cause an increase in the administrative workload of the department that may be absorbed by the department’s operating budget.

 

 

Section:

State Government

Analyst:

Anna Harris

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.).