LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
ASSEMBLY, No. 5059
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 15, 2026
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Establishes crime of fertility fraud. |
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Type of Impact: |
Annual State expenditure and revenue increases; annual local expenditure increases. |
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Agencies Affected: |
The Judiciary; Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of Corrections; State Parole Board; County Prosecutors. |
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
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Fiscal Impact |
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Annual |
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State Expenditure Increase |
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Indeterminate |
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State Revenue Increase |
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Indeterminate |
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Local Expenditure Increase |
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Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill will result in an indeterminate annual increase in State expenditures and revenues. Under the provisions of the bill, fertility fraud would be a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Generally, a presumption of non-incarceration applies to first-time offenders of crimes of the third degree.
· The OLS notes that the fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined as it is not possible to estimate how many individuals will be found guilty of the new crime. According to some reports, more than 50 fertility doctors nationwide have been accused in recent years of fertility fraud crimes involving assistive reproductive procedures. The OLS does not have sufficient information on the number of fertility fraud cases reported in New Jersey.
· The OLS also notes the State may receive indeterminate revenue from fines imposed on individuals convicted of this crime; however, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.
BILL DESCRIPTION
The bill establishes the crime of fertility fraud. Under the bill, a person commits fertility fraud if the person is a health care practitioner and knowingly performs an assisted reproduction treatment on a patient that results in a pregnancy using the person’s own human reproductive material without the written informed consent of the patient, or using the human reproductive material of another person without the written informed consent of the patient.
Fertility fraud would be a crime of the third degree. A crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
The bill also requires the court to order the permanent revocation of any license or certification related to the provision of health care services that is held by the defendant.
Under the bill, a prosecution for fertility fraud is required to be commenced within 20 years of the date the assisted reproduction treatment was conducted, or within 10 years of the date that the victim became aware that the crime occurred.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that establishing the crime of fertility fraud will result in an indeterminate annual increase in State expenditures and revenues. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact, as it cannot be known how many individuals will be prosecuted, tried, and sentenced under the new crime.
This bill establishes the crime of fertility fraud as a crime of the third degree, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. Generally, a crime of the third degree carries a presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders. The OLS does not have Statewide data on fertility fraud cases. According to some reports, more than 50 fertility doctors nationwide have been accused in recent years of crimes that would be covered under this bill. Under the bill, a prosecution for fertility fraud is required to be commenced within 20 years of the date the assisted reproduction treatment was conducted, or within 10 years of the date that the victim became aware that the crime occurred.
The following State and local agencies may incur caseload and expenditure increases: a) the Department of Law and Public Safety may need to prosecute additional cases or provide guidance and other information to the county prosecutors; b) county prosecutors may have to prosecute additional cases if the increased penalties create a reluctance on the part of the defendant to enter a guilty plea; c) the Judiciary may have to adjudicate additional cases; and d) the Department of Corrections may have to house more offenders for longer terms of imprisonment and the State Parole Board would have to supervise their return to society. The OLS finds that to the extent that the bill will result in additional incarcerations, based on information provided by the Department of Corrections, the average annual cost of incarceration is projected to be $78,848 per incarcerated person in FY 2026 and the marginal cost of housing one additional incarcerated person, accounting for food, clothing, and wages is projected to be $4,385. According to the State Parole Board, the annual average marginal cost to supervising one additional parolee is estimated at $4,002 for FY 2026. The average cost per parolee, with all overhead costs included, is estimated at $6,884 for FY 2026.
The OLS also notes the State may receive indeterminate revenue from fines imposed on individuals convicted of this crime; however, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.
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Section: |
Judiciary |
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Analyst: |
Senior 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.).