LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 3459

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: OCTOBER 2, 2024

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Creates Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual 

 

State Expenditure Increase

Minimum of $154,000 to $168,000

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill will annually increase State expenditures by a minimum of $154,000 to $168,000 from the creation of the Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.

 

·         The OLS estimates that the heads, or designees, of 14 veteran 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) organizations will serve as members on the board with each member being entitled to a $1,000 per diem allowance for each monthly meeting attended, not to exceed $12,000 per calendar year.  The board must also hold a minimum of 11 monthly meetings per calendar year.

 

·         Any change in the number of organizations serving as members on the board will result in a corresponding change in cost between $11,000 and $12,000.

 

·         The State will also incur an indeterminate amount of costs to provide reimbursement to board members for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  Moreover, various other Executive Branch agencies will incur some amount of costs due to the required appointments of a liaison to the Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board and the required submission of various reports.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill creates a Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.  The board is responsible for the oversight of: (1) all veteran service officers; (2) each board, council, commission, program, and such similar entity, within the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs; and (3) all programs, benefits, and services provided specifically to military service members, veterans, and their families by any State Executive Branch department, division, commission, or agency.

      This bill establishes the membership of the board to consist of the heads, or designees, of each veteran 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organization under the Internal Revenue Code operating in the State.  The board members are entitled to a per diem allowance of $1,000 for each monthly meeting attended, which is not to exceed a total of $12,000 per calendar year.  The board members are also entitled to reimbursements for costs incurred during the performance of their duties and for reasonable travel.

      The bill requires the board to meet once each calendar month with a minimum of 11 monthly meetings held over the course of a calendar year.  The bill permits the board to hold additional meetings, as well as public meetings, as the board deems necessary.

      The bill also requires each Executive Branch department, division, commission, and agency that provides programs, benefits, and services specifically for military service members, veterans, and their families to appoint a liaison to the board to serve as a point of contact to the board.  The liaisons will be required to submit a biannual report to the board.  The liaisons will also be required to annually present to the board the portion of their State and federal budget that represents these programs, benefits, and services.  These requirements also apply to each board, council, commission, and similar entity within the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.

      The board is required to submit a report detailing a strategic plan based upon comprehensive data acquired through engagement with State departments, divisions, commissions, and agencies, and military service members, veterans, and their families to the Governor and the Legislature within nine months of the organizational meetings and on an annual basis thereafter.

      The bill requires the department to include a request for sufficient funds for the operations of the board in their annual budget request.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that this bill will annually increase State expenditures by a minimum of $154,000 to $168,000 from the creation of the Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board in the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.  

      The OLS estimates that the membership of the board will consist of the head, or a designee, of 14 veteran 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations.  The number of organizations was determined by various lists of Veteran Service Organizations published by State executive departments.  Each member is entitled to a $1,000 per diem allowance for each monthly meeting attended, which is not to exceed a total of $12,000 per calendar year.  The board is also required to hold at least 11 monthly meetings per calendar year, meaning each member will annually receive either $11,000 or $12,000 for attending the board meetings. 

      Using the estimated 14 organizations, the resulting annual State expenditure increase will fall between $154,000 and $168,000 for the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs.  Any change in the number of organizations serving as members on the board will result in a corresponding change of $11,000 to $12,000 per individual added or removed.  Additionally, if a member does not attend a meeting, the member will not receive the $1,000 per diem allowance.

      The State will also incur an indeterminate amount of costs to provide reimbursement to board members for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  Moreover, various other Executive Branch agencies will incur some amount of costs due to the required appointments of a liaison to the Military and Veterans Affairs Oversight Board and the required submission of various reports.

 

 

Section:

State Government

Analyst:

Camryn Mathews

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.).