LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 1516
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
DATED: SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
SUMMARY
Synopsis: Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor
certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires
professional development for school counselors; establishes position
of School Counselor Liaison in DOE.
Type of Impact: Annual expenditure increase to the State.
Agencies Affected: Department of Education.
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
Fiscal Impact Annual
State Cost Increase Indeterminate
 The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill would result in an indeterminate
annual expenditure increase for the Department of Education associated with the establishment
of the position of State School Counselor Liaison.
 If the department hires a new employee for the liaison position, compensation costs could be
in the range of $75,000 to $100,000, plus benefits.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes the position of State School Counselor Liaison in the Department of
Education. The liaison would be responsible for working with school districts and school
counselors to facilitate best practices for addressing the mental and behavioral health and wellness
of all students. The liaison would serve as a resource expert in school counseling for New Jersey
certified school counselors and the Department of Education and would foster and promote
professional development for school counselors. The liaison would be required to report annually
Office of Legislative Services Legislative Budget and Finance Office
State House Annex Phone (609) 847-3105
P.O. Box 068 Fax (609) 777-2442
Trenton, New Jersey 08625 www.njleg.state.nj.us
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to the Governor and the Legislature, including a summary of the activities of the liaison during the
year and any recommendations deemed appropriate concerning school counseling services.
The bill directs the State Board of Education to establish professional development
requirements for school counselors that include a requirement that each school counselor complete
professional development training in areas related to the duties of a school counselor.
In addition to any other requirements adopted by the State Board of Education for school
counseling programs, the bill requires that school counseling programs at regionally accredited
colleges or universities that lead to a standard educational services certificate with a school
counselor endorsement incorporate: the American School Counselor Association’s national model
for comprehensive school counseling programs or a State-approved model; and training in the
delivery of social and emotional learning programming as well as postsecondary and career
planning.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that this bill would result in an indeterminate annual expenditure increase for
the Department of Education primarily associated with the appointment of a State School
Counselor Liaison.
The bill requires the department to appoint a School Counselor Liaison to work with school
counselors, school districts, and the Department of Education on matters related to school
counseling services. The bill does not specify whether the liaison will be an existing employee of
the department or whether the department can hire a new employee for the position. The State
would incur annual cost increases if the department hires a new employee to act as State School
Counselor Liaison. Assuming that a newly hired employee would receive an annual salary of
between $75,000 and $100,000 for this role, the annual State personnel costs would be between
$115,050 and $153,400 when factoring in the State’s fringe benefit rate (the rate for FY 2024 is
not yet published so the FY 2023 rate is being utilized). If a current employee is appointed for this
role, the associated State costs to implement the requirements of the bill will be lower.
The bill may also result in marginal State cost increases associated with the development, to
the extent that it does not already exist, of professional development training for school counselors
and the potential creation of a State-approved model for comprehensive school counseling
programs at certain State institutions of higher education. School districts may also incur
indeterminate, likely marginal, annual workload increases related to the school counselor training
required under the bill. Similarly, to the extent that public institutions of higher education offering
certain school counseling programs need to modify those programs to reflect the requirements of
the bill, these institutions may experience cost increases.
Section: Education
Analyst: Abigail Chambers
Associate Fiscal Analyst
Approved: Thomas Koenig
Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
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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.).