Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Spearman, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Speight, McKnight, Assemblyman Wimberly, Assemblywoman Lopez, Assemblyman Holley, Assemblywoman Chaparro, Assemblymen Zwicker, Mejia, Assemblywomen Jasey, Downey and Jimenez
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 2019 (P.L.2019, c.150).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2019, c.150, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:
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34 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 30 Educational, Cultural, and Intellectual Development 31 Direct Educational Services and Assistance STATE AID |
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38-5120 Facilities Planning and School Building Aid ....................... |
$20,000,000 |
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Total State Aid Appropriation, |
$20,000,000 |
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Direct Educational Services and Assistance .................... |
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State Aid: |
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38 School Facilities Sanitation Aid ..…………... |
($20,000,000) |
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Of the amount hereinabove appropriated for School Facilities Sanitation Aid, an amount not to exceed $20,000,000, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, shall be awarded by the Commissioner of Education to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools for the purpose of increasing the frequency and intensity of the cleaning and sanitizing of school facilities in the event that the school is provided a written directive by either the New Jersey Department of Health or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure on March 9, 2020 or any day thereafter due to suspected exposure to the COVID-19 epidemic. The funds shall be used for the purchase of disinfectants and other cleaning supplies, and any increase in personnel costs associated with the enhanced cleaning schedule. A school district, charter school, or nonpublic school may submit an application to the commissioner detailing its total estimated costs. The commissioner shall establish an expedited application, approval, and fund disbursement process. The commissioner shall allocate the funds in proportion to the number of students enrolled in the school district, and in the charter schools and nonpublic schools located in that school district as compared to the total number of students enrolled in all school districts, and in charter schools and nonpublic schools that have reported their enrollment to the commissioner.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the receipt of funding from the amount hereinabove appropriated for School Facilities Sanitation Aid shall be conditioned upon the following provision: each charter school and nonpublic school located in a school district that intends to submit an application to the commissioner for funds appropriated for School Facilities Sanitation Aid shall provide to the commissioner the number of pupils enrolled in the charter school or nonpublic school within 20 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes an FY 2020 supplemental appropriation of $20 million to the Department of Education to provide up to $20 million in funds, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, to be awarded by the commissioner to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools for the purpose of increasing the frequency and intensity of the cleaning and sanitizing of school facilities in the event that the school is provided a written directive by either the New Jersey Department of Health or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure on March 9, 2020 or any day thereafter due to suspected exposure to the COVID-19 epidemic. The funds will be used for the purchase of disinfectants and other cleaning supplies, and for any increase in personnel costs associated with the enhanced cleaning schedule. The Commissioner of Education is directed to establish an expedited application, approval, and disbursement process for the funds. The commissioner will allocate the funds in proportion to the number of students enrolled in the school district, and in the charter schools and nonpublic schools located in that school district as compared to the total number of students enrolled in all school districts, and charter schools and nonpublic schools that have reported their enrollment to the commissioner.