LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 4376

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 30, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes Department of Veterans Affairs.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

Annual 

 

 

State Expenditure Increase

 

Minimum $1 million

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the establishment of a new Department of Veterans Affairs will result in a minimum annual cost increase to the State of $1 million to pay for increased salary and wages costs for positions created under the bill, to provide a suitable headquarters for the new department, and to design and maintain new websites and print materials for the new department.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs as a principal department in the Executive Branch of State Government.  All divisions and programs concerning veterans currently in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will continue and be transferred to the new Department of Veterans Affairs.  The programs that do not concern veterans will continue in what will be referred to as the Department of Military Affairs.  This bill does not create any new divisions or programs.  All of the bill's provisions exist in current law and have been duplicated in this bill to provide for their recodification in a new Title 38B.  Corresponding provisions of current law codified in Title 38A are repealed.

      Under the bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be headed by a commissioner, who is required to appoint at least one deputy commissioner to perform all of the powers, functions, and duties of the commissioner during the absence or disability of the commissioner, and who is required to perform such other duties as assigned.  The bill provides that the commissioner will have the powers, functions, and duties formerly vested in the Administrator of Veterans Affairs in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as other powers and functions, which will include, but are not limited to, the authority to organize and maintain an administrative division and maintain a suitable headquarters for the department.  Under the bill, the commissioner will have an appropriate seal, which will be required to be included on all certificates of records issued from that department.

      The Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs, will also have an appropriate seal which will be required to be included on all certificates of records issued from the department.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the establishment of a new Department of Veterans Affairs will result in a minimum annual cost increase to the State of $1 million to pay for increased salary and wages costs for positions created under the bill, to provide a suitable headquarters for the new department, and to design and maintain new websites and print materials for the new department.

      The actual annual cost increase to the State will depend on the number of new personnel added to the State’s payroll and corresponding salary and wages expenses, the cost to provide a suitable headquarters for the department and operate the new department, and the cost to design and maintain new print and online materials.

 

 

Section:

State Government

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.).