LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 5076

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

DATED: FEBRUARY 24, 2025

SUMMARY

Synopsis:	Requires State Police to establish maternity policy for troopers.
Type of Impact:	Annual State expenditure decrease.
Agencies Affected:	Department of Law and Public Safety.

Office of Legislative Services Estimate
Fiscal Impact
Annual State Expenditure Decrease	Indeterminate

· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the provisions of the bill will result in an indeterminate annual savings to the State by establishing a maternity leave policy for postpartum State Police troopers.

· Based on information provided to the OLS, unlimited sick leave, with full pay and benefits, is currently available to postpartum troopers for pregnancy-related absences.

· The OLS finds the cost savings would result from the bill’s prohibition on conducting integrity checks during the trooper’s maternity recovery leave.

BILL DESCRIPTION

      This bill requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish a maternity policy applicable to troopers who present proof of pregnancy.

      The bill requires the maternity leave policy, at a minimum, to: (1) establish at least eight weeks of continuous recovery leave after giving birth, with full pay and benefits, without the recovery leave being considered sick leave or deducted from sick leave balances; and (2) not subject a trooper to residency restrictions or integrity checks, which may be applicable to sick or other medical leave, during the period of maternity recovery leave.

      Under the bill, the superintendent is required to make available information concerning the maternity policy on the intranet maintained by the Division of State Police.  The information is required to include, at a minimum, applicable policies and forms that are required to be completed before and after a period of maternity recovery leave is taken; frequently asked questions; and contact information that allows a trooper to inquire about the division’s maternity policy.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

      None received.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

      The OLS concludes that the provisions of the bill will result in an indeterminate annual savings to the State by establishing a maternity leave policy for postpartum State Police troopers.

      Currently, sick or other medical leave is the available leave for pregnancy-related absences, which require residency restrictions and integrity checks.  The OLS finds the cost savings would result from the bill’s prohibition on conducting integrity checks during the trooper’s maternity recovery leave.  While the OLS is unable to determine the exact savings that would result from the bill’s provisions, the OLS notes that residency restrictions and related integrity checks require compliance unit personnel to confirm that a trooper on sick or medical leave remains in their place of recovery between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. either through an at-home visit or a phone call.  As such, the cost of gas likely forms the bulk of expenses beyond personnel costs for integrity checks under the current policy.

      Based on workforce data from the 2023 New Jersey State Police Annual Report and birth rate data from the New Jersey Department of Health, there are likely to be no more than 40 postpartum Division of State Police troopers on an annual basis.  The OLS estimates that it is therefore unlikely that savings realized under the bill would amount to more than several thousand dollars on an annual basis.

      Information the State Troopers Fraternal Association provided to the OLS indicates that unlimited sick leave, with full pay and benefits, is currently available to postpartum troopers for pregnancy-related absences.

      Lastly, the OLS notes that the bill’s requirement that the Division of State Police make available information concerning the maternity policy on its intranet website may result in a one-time State cost increase.

Sections:	Law and Public Safety Section & State Government Section
Analysts:	Kristin Brunner Santos Lead Fiscal Analyst Anna Harris 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.).