LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 2521
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: FEBRUARY 20, 2024
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Allows for issuance of two-year temporary courtesy license for nonresident military spouses in certain professions. |
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Type of Impact: |
Potential Annual State Revenue and Expenditure Increases. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Law and Public Safety |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Annual Fiscal Impact |
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Potential State Cost Increases |
Indeterminate |
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Potential State Revenue Increases |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will potentially cause indeterminate increases in annual State revenues and expenditures to the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety from issuing a two-year temporary courtesy license for nonresident military spouses in professions overseen by certain occupational and licensing boards. The OLS, however, cannot assess the net effect of the two potential increases given the absence of information on the future cost of extending the temporary courtesy license program and the extent of future license fee and penalty collections.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill amends current law on temporary courtesy licenses for nonresident military spouses. Under the bill, a nonresident military spouse who is issued a temporary courtesy license in New Jersey from the State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst Examiners; the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, including the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee; the New Jersey Board of Nursing; the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council; the State Board of Psychological Examiners; the State Board of Social Work Examiners; or the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee, is to have the temporary courtesy license for two years. The license may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the specific board, council, or committee and submission of an application by the holder of the temporary courtesy license. Currently, temporary courtesy licenses are granted for one year, with the option for a one-year extension.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that the bill will potentially cause indeterminate increases in annual State revenues and expenditures to the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety from issuing a two-year temporary courtesy license for nonresident military spouses in professions overseen by certain occupational and licensing boards. The OLS, however, cannot assess the net effect of the two potential increases given the absence of information on the future cost of extending the temporary courtesy license program and the extent of future license fee and penalty collections.
The OLS notes that there does not appear to be information regarding the number of military spouses who are specifically nonresidents, nor is there information available indicating how many nonresident military spouses who currently have or would apply for one of the licenses covered by the bill. However, for context, a United States Department of Defense report entitled “2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community” indicates that the number of military spouses at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is 3,292. Meanwhile, information from the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Manpower Data Center indicates a total of 3,763 active-duty spouses in the State. Again, the OLS cannot know the residency status of these spouses nor the number that would apply for the courtesy licenses covered by the bill.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Lead Fiscal Analyst |
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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.).