LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3517

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 16, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Expands Division of State Police rank and grade titles.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

 

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

 

 

 

Annual State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill may result in an indeterminate, likely marginal, increase in State administrative expenditures associated with personnel-management and record-keeping activities for changes in rank and grade within the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. These activities may include reviewing personnel files, documenting reclassifications, and updating internal systems. 

·       However, depending on the division’s resource allocation policies, the added workload may or may not augment State administrative expenditures.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill expands certain Division of State Police titles that may change in rank and grade without approval by the Attorney General.

      Under the bill, the Superintendent of the Division of State Police may change the ranks and grades of any trooper, detective, first-line supervisor, mid-level manager, or executive-level personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the division without the approval of the Attorney General.  However, the bill requires the superintendent to obtain the Attorney General’s approval before making changes to command staff positions holding the rank of major or lieutenant colonel.

      The bill provides that any personnel changes be achieved within the limitations of the division’s appropriations, consistent with current law.

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that this bill may result in an indeterminate, likely modest, increase in State administrative expenditures associated with personnel-management and record-keeping activities for changes in rank and grade within the Division of State Police. These activities may include reviewing personnel files, documenting reclassifications, and updating internal systems.  However, depending on the division’s resource allocation policies, the added workload may or may not augment State administrative expenditures. 

     

      Division of State Police Background: The division’s Office of Human Resources oversees and coordinates various aspects of personnel management, encompassing training, payroll, pensions, benefits, leave time, and personnel records.  Additionally, this office handles all civilian recruitment, hiring, and promotional processes and facilitates the enlisted promotions within the division.  The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget recommended funding for an estimated 4,650 positions at the division. This is 79 positions more than were filled in December 2024. The division’s headcount has increased by approximately two percent annually on average since FY 2016.

 

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      The bill requires that all changes in rank and grade be implemented within existing appropriations.  Due to the absence of data on the expected number, frequency, and scope of rank or grade changes that may be undertaken, the OLS is unable to determine the full extent to which the bill may result in additional costs for the division.

 

Section:

Law and Public Safety

Analyst:

Jaime Velazquez

Associate Research 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.).