LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
ASSEMBLY, Nos. 4444 and 4471
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
DATED: MARCH 31, 2023
SUMMARY
Synopsis: Upgrades certain types of assault against sports officials to aggravated
assault.
Type of Impact: Annual State expenditure and revenue increases.
Agencies Affected: The Judiciary; Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of
Corrections; Office of the Public Defender; State Parole Board.
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
Fiscal Impact Annual
State Cost Increase Indeterminate
State Revenue Increase Indeterminate
 The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that upgrading simple assault committed
against sports officials to aggravated assault will result in an indeterminate annual increase in
State expenditures and revenues. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal
impact, as it is not possible to know how many individuals will be prosecuted, tried, and
sentenced under the expanded criminal penalties.
 The following State agencies would incur caseload and expenditure increases: a) the
Department of Law and Public Safety would have to prosecute additional cases; b) the
Judiciary would have to adjudicate additional complaints and monitor additional probationers;
c) the Office of the Public Defender would have to represent additional low-income
defendants; d) the Department of Corrections would have to house and care for more
individuals who are sentenced to prison terms; and e) the State Parole Board would have to
supervise the return to society of additional offenders.
 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.
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
 FE to [1R] ACS for A4444
2
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill upgrades simple assault committed against a sports official to aggravated assault if
the assault occurs while the sports official is clearly identifiable as being engaged in the
performance of the duties of a sports official; or while the official is traveling to or from a school
or community sponsored youth sports event; or because of the person’s status as a sports official.
The bill defines “sports official” as any person who serves as a referee, umpire, timer, scorer,
coach, athletic trainer, manager, or assistant for a school or community sponsored youth sports
event, or serves in a similar capacity but may be known by a different title, whether the person is
compensated or a volunteer.
Aggravated assault against a sports official would be upgraded to a crime of the third degree
if the person suffers bodily injury. 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. If no bodily injury results
from the assault, the assault would be upgraded to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the
fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000,
or both. The upgrade to either a third or fourth degree crime is consistent with current law
upgrading simple assault to aggravated assault if it is committed against other specified officials,
officers, and employees, such as law enforcement, firefighters, and public and non-public school
personnel.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that upgrading criminal penalties for assault committed against a sports
official will result in an indeterminate annual increase in State expenditures and revenues. The
OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact, as it is not possible to know how
many individuals will be prosecuted, tried, and sentenced under the upgraded crime.
This bill expands current law making it a crime of the third degree if the person assaulted
suffers bodily injury. 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. If no bodily injury results from the assault, the assault
would be upgraded to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by
a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Generally, third and
fourth degree crimes carry a presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders.
The following State agencies would incur caseload and expenditure increases: the Department
of Law and Public Safety, the Judiciary, the Office of the Public Defender, the Department of
Corrections, and the State Parole Board. In an informal estimate provided by the Department of
Corrections previously, the average annual cost of housing an inmate in a State correctional facility
is $55,389, with a daily cost of $151.75. The cost is based on FY 2021 actual expenditures and is
an average of all facilities, with an exception of the Special Treatment Unit at Adult Diagnostic
and Treatment Center that houses the civilly committed residents.
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.
 FE to [1R] ACS for A4444
3
Section: Judiciary
Analyst: Anuja Pande Joshi
Senior 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.).