Read the full stored bill text
S533 [1R] FISCAL ESTIMATE
LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 533
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
DATED: JUNE 22, 2026
SUMMARY
Synopsis:
Concerns training of employees about access to public
facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs.
Type of Impact:
Annual State expenditure and revenue increases; potential
annual local expenditure increases and revenue increases.
Agencies Affected:
Department of Law and Public Safety; certain State and
local government employers.
Office
of Legislative Services Estimate
Annual Fiscal Impact
State Expenditure Increase
Indeterminate
Potential Local Expenditure Increase
Indeterminate
State Revenue Increase
Indeterminate
Local Revenue Increase
Indeterminate
�
The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that this bill would
result in an indeterminate one-time cost increase to the Division on Civil
Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety to produce and publish the
required training, and may lead to an annual expenditure increase for certain
State and local government employers to provide the required training to their
employees. The extent of the cost increase will depend on the guidelines
provided by the Division on Civil Rights and the manner of training implemented
by the State and local government employers.
�
The OLS finds that annual revenue may be collected by the State
and local governments through increased penalties of between $250 and $1,000 that
may be issued for violations of the bill�s provisions. The current penalties
are $100 to $500 for similar provisions of law.
BILL DESCRIPTION
����� The bill requires any employer who has one or more
employees or agents serving customers or other individuals in a place of public
accommodation or other public facility, or otherwise has the ability to provide
or deny access to the place or facility, to provide training to those employees
regarding the right of an individual with a disability to have a guide or
service dog in places of public accommodation or other public facilities under
the relevant provisions of State and federal law. An employer who personally
serves customers in such facilities is subject to the same training requirement
as the employer's employees and agents
����� The bill provides that the Division on Civil Rights in
the Department of Law and Public Safety would be required to set minimum
standards for the training required by the bill and make the standards
available on its website. Additionally, the division would be required to
create and make available on its website, at no cost, a recorded training that
an employer may utilize to satisfy the bill�s training requirements.
Alternatively, an employer may satisfy this requirement by utilizing training
or training materials that may be provided by the United States Department of
Justice, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or any other entity that
provides training which meets the minimum standards, or by implementing a
training program at its own cost. The training is required to be provided to
each employee and agent within 30 days of initial hire and at least every two
years.
����� The bill specifies that nothing in its provisions
permits a person to file a complaint with the division or in Superior Court
alleging any failure to comply. Under the bill, the Office of the Attorney
General or the director of the division may enforce violations and pursue any
penalty or remedy available under the Law Against Discrimination.
����� Finally, the bill provides that a person is subject to
a penalty between $250 and $1,000 for interference with certain rights of
persons with guide dogs or service dogs; interference with the function of
guide dogs and service dogs; intentionally misrepresenting that a dog is a
guide dog or service dog; and intentionally misrepresenting that the person is
a guide or service dog trainer.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
����� None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
����� The OLS notes that this bill would result in an
indeterminate one-time cost increase to the Division on Civil Rights in the
Department of Law and Public Safety to produce and make available on its
website the required training on the rights of an individual with a disability
to have a guide or service dog in a public facility. Additionally, certain
State and local government employers may incur additional annual expenditures
to provide the required training to their employees. The OLS finds that additional
annual revenue may be collected through increased penalties but lacks the
informational basis to quantify the extent of those revenue increases.
�����
State and Local Expenditures
: A one-time
expenditure increase is anticipated for the Division on Civil Rights in the
Department of Law and Public Safety to produce and make available training on its
website. The OLS notes that the Division on Civil Rights developed training
regarding assistance animals to clarify the Law Against Discrimination�s
protections and has posted two trainings on the State website: 1) Assistance
Animals: Navigating the Rights of People with Disabilities and 2) Assistance
Animals in Housing: Navigating the Rights of People with Disabilities.
Depending on the resource allocation policies of the division, the added
initial workload may or may not augment State administrative expenditures.
����� Annual State or local expenditures, if any, will
depend on the guidelines provided by the Division on Civil Rights and the
manner of training implemented by the State and local government employers. The
bill leaves it to the discretion of the employer as to which training to
follow. To the extent that existing resources are utilized in fulfilling the
training requirement of this bill, or if a no-cost option is provided by the
Department of Law and Public Safety, United States Department of Justice, the
New Jersey State Bar Association, or another entity, State and local costs
would be reduced or eliminated. If more extensive training is undertaken by the
State or local government employers, as is permitted by the bill, additional
indeterminate expenditure increases may be incurred.
����� Under the bill�s provisions, the Office of the Attorney
General or the director of the Division on Civil Rights may enforce violations
and may pursue any penalty or remedy available under the Law Against
Discrimination. The OLS notes that the Americans with Disabilities Act protects
the rights of an individual with a disability to be accompanied by a service
dog trained to perform tasks related to the individual's disability. Currently,
the National Network Information, Guidance, and Training on the Americans with
Disabilities Act provides employers with virtual training encompassing best
practices for effectively working with, and serving, individuals with
disabilities. The OLS notes that the provisions of the bill may result in a
decrease in State Superior Court cases involving discrimination against those
individuals with legitimate service animals based on the increased education
required by the bill.
�����
State and Local Revenues
: The OLS
finds that annual revenue may be collected by the State and local governments from
the increased penalties in the bill. Under current law, fines are between $100
and $500 for similar provisions in the law. Under the bill�s provisions, a
person is subject to increased fines of $250 to $1,000 for: 1) interference
with certain rights of persons with guide dogs or service dogs; 2) interference
with the function of guide dogs and service dogs; 3) intentionally
misrepresenting that a dog is a guide dog or service dog; or 4) intentionally
misrepresenting that the person is a guide or service dog trainer. The OLS cannot
ascertain the revenues that the State or local governments will receive from
the collection of penalties.
Section:
Law and Public Safety
Analyst:
Kristin Brunner Santos
Lead 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.).