LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3501

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JANUARY 16, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires certain public awareness campaigns to include information about duty of motorist to take certain action when approaching pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance. 

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase. 

Agencies Affected:

Department of Transportation; Department of Law and Public Safety. 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Expenditure Increase

$1,000

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the bill will result in annual increased costs of $1,000 to the State attributable to updating public awareness programs annually.  This estimate anticipates that the Department of Transportation and the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety will update public awareness programs that will rely heavily on the use of existing variable message signs and existing materials from the “move over” law public awareness campaign established by the division.   

·         Additionally, the OLS assumes that the department will not incur additional costs to use variable message signs to inform motorists about the State’s “move over” law based on the fact that the department owns the variable message signs and that existing internal resources are sufficient to program and operate those signs to communicate the required information.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Department of Transportation and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to update, on an annual basis, public awareness programs and a public awareness campaign that inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching certain vehicles, including certain stationary authorized emergency vehicles, tow trucks, highway maintenance vehicles, emergency service vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and disabled vehicles, and the importance of taking these actions.  The bill also requires the department to use variable message signs, at least once per year, to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching these vehicles. 

      Additionally, this bill requires the department to develop, and update annually, public awareness programs and use, at least once per year, variable message signs to inform motorists of their duty to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance.    The bill further requires the division to establish, and update annually, a public awareness campaign that includes information about the importance of complying with a law that requires motorists to take certain actions when approaching a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal conveyance, the risks associated with failing to comply with the law, and the penalties and fines that will be imposed for violating the law.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received. 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the bill will result in annual increased costs of $1,000 to the State attributable to updating public awareness programs annually.  This estimate anticipates that the department will update public awareness programs that will rely heavily on the use of existing variable message signs and existing materials from the “move over” law public awareness campaign established by the division. 

      The OLS assumes that the department and the division will most likely be able to update existing outreach materials using existing resources at a minimal cost.  Additionally, the OLS assumes that the department and the division will most likely choose a low cost option to create some additional awareness materials, such as a brochure. 

      The cost to update or develop a new brochure is minimal because the division can use existing “move over” law public awareness campaign materials to assist in the creation of a new brochure.  It may cost $1,000 for a graphic designer to utilize existing campaign materials to craft a tri-fold brochure consistent with the campaign.  Online quotes suggest that a print run of 10,000 glossy color brochures would cost approximately $1,000. 

      Additionally, the OLS assumes that the department will not incur additional costs to use variable message signs to inform motorists about the State’s “move over” law.  This expectation is based on the fact that the department owns the variable message signs and that existing internal resources are sufficient to program and operate those signs to communicate the required information.

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Michael D. Walker

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.).