ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND STATE PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3851

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 16, 2020

      The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3851. 

      As reported by the committee, the current authority of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to extend the statutory dates for the introduction and approval, and for the adoption, of county and municipal budgets when the Governor has declared a Public Health Emergency or State of Emergency.

      P.L.1989, c.31 permits the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, with the approval of the Local Finance Board, to extend the dates for the introduction and approval, and for the adoption of county and municipal budgets for any local fiscal year beyond the dates required under the "Local Budget Law" (N.J.S.40A:4-1 et seq.).

      This bill would amend that law to permit the director to extend those dates unilaterally whenever a Public Health Emergency or a State of Emergency, or both, has been declared by the Governor and is in effect.