LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4983

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 27, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires certain athletic trainers and certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by Commissioner of Education.

Type of Impact:

Potential annual State expenditure increase from the General Fund.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Education.

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual 

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill could lead to an indeterminate, but likely marginal, increase in both upfront and ongoing expenditures for the Department of Education to establish and maintain a training program for coaches and athletic trainers concerning eating disorders in student-athletes, to the extent that existing staff and resources are not sufficient to effectuate the provisions of the bill.

·         The OLS does not anticipate an increase in expenditures for local school districts or public institutions of higher education associated with the development of protocols for situations in which a student-athlete is suspected to have an eating disorder.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      The bill requires certain athletic trainers and coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete a student-athlete eating disorder training program developed by the Department of Education.

      The department is required to develop a student-athlete eating disorder awareness training program that includes information on: types of eating disorders and risk factors; identification of behaviors and symptoms associated with eating disorders; prevention of eating disorders among student-athletes; services available to a student with an eating disorder offered through the State, county, and public institution of higher education or public school; and protocols for connecting a student-athlete who may have an eating disorder with available services.  In developing the program, the department is to consider any information available from a State or national athletic association or conference, or mental health association concerning eating disorder awareness.  The training program is to be updated as necessary to ensure that the program reflects the most current information.

      The bill requires the training program to be completed by each person who is: appointed as a coach of a middle school or high school interscholastic sport, cheerleading program, or dance program offered in a public school; appointed as a coach of a collegiate sport offered at a public institution of higher education; or employed as an athletic trainer by a public school or public institution of higher education.  Individuals required to complete the training program are to initially complete the program within six months of the beginning of the first full school year following the program’s establishment and subsequently complete the program every two years.  An individual who is hired or appointed for a position that requires the completion of the program is to complete the program within six months of the beginning of employment or appointment to that position.

      Each board of education and the governing board of each public institution of higher education is required to adopt a policy detailing the protocol to be followed by a coach, athletic trainer, or other staff member when it is suspected that a student-athlete may have an eating disorder, including how to notify the student-athlete’s parents or guardians and the school counselor if applicable, and how to connect the student-athlete with appropriate services.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that the bill could lead to an indeterminate, but likely marginal, increase in both upfront and ongoing expenditures for the Department of Education to establish and maintain a training program for coaches and athletic trainers concerning eating disorders in student-athletes, to the extent that existing staff and resources are not sufficient to effectuate the provisions of the bill.  The OLS notes that, in the event that the department would need to hire additional staff, the annual cost of each additional employee could be approximately $140,500.  The State Government 2024 Workforce Profile published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission indicates that the average salary for a full-time government employee is $85,784.  When accounting for the cost of fringe benefits, the annual cost to the State of the average employee is an estimated $140,514.

      The OLS does not anticipate an increase in expenditures for local school districts or public institutions of higher education associated with the development of protocols for situations in which a student-athlete is suspected to have an eating disorder.  The protocol would likely utilize existing resources and procedures for addressing other physical and mental health concerns of student-athletes.

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Abigail Chambers

Associate 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.).