ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2134

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2018

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2134.

     This bill proposes to supplement the Fiscal Year 2018 annual appropriations act by making an appropriation of $7,453,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Family Planning Services grants. 

     Appropriations for these grants were eliminated in Fiscal Year 2011, and have not been reinstated.  The elimination of this funding resulted in both the closing of centers that provide family planning services and a reduction in the availability of such services, as the remaining sources of federal and private funding for the family planning centers were insufficient to maintain existing services.

     This bill restores State funding for family planning centers to previous levels, thereby increasing the availability of family planning services.  The bill also improves family planning centers’ abilities to compete for additional federal Title X family planning grants, which fund no less than 90 percent of grant recipients’ approved project costs and require a non-federal match of no more than 10 percent.

     The bill specifies that the funding may not be used for abortion procedures.

As reported, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 120, as also reported by the committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

     The Office of Legislative Services notes that this bill appropriates an amount of $7,453,000.