Bill > A4077

This bill, titled the "Knowledge, Accountability, and Rights in Incarceration Markets Act," aims to impose various taxes and fees on businesses that provide services to correctional facilities in New Jersey to help offset the societal costs associated with incarceration. Specifically, it defines a "correctional service business" as any for-profit entity offering services like dining, laundry, maintenance, or transportation to detention facilities, excluding services like reentry programs or inmate communications. These businesses will be subject to an annual operations fee calculated as 8% of their gross receipts or contract value with public entities, and a separate 3% surtax on their allocated taxable net income, similar to existing corporate business taxes. Revenues generated from these new fees and taxes will be directed to a "Societal Rehabilitation Support Fund," which will then be appropriated by the Legislature to support community-based programs focused on food security, housing, job training, and youth mentorship, with specific allocations also designated for state, county, and municipal programs. The bill also includes provisions to ensure it does not discriminate against or directly regulate the United States government and clarifies that any unconstitutional parts will not invalidate the rest of the act.