Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Makes FY 2020 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10 million to DCA for NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
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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22 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security 55 Social Services Programs Grants-in-Aid |
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05-8050 Community Resources ...................................................... |
$10,000,000 |
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Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, |
$10,000,000 |
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Social Services Programs .................. |
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Grants-in-Aid: |
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($10,000,000) |
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The amounts hereinabove appropriated for the NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program shall be awarded by the
Commissioner of Community Affairs to homeowners and tenants
of residential property throughout the State who suffered financial loss during
the pendency of the Governor’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency under
the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), and of a
State of Emergency under P.L.1942, c. 251 (C.App.A.9-33 et seq.), in relation
to the coronavirus disease 2019. Of the amounts
appropriated herein, $5 million shall be
appropriated from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for rent and mortgage
assistance and $5 million shall be appropriated from the Universal Service Fund
for utility payment assistance. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall design and
establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with this act which the Commissioner
of Community Affairs deems necessary and appropriate to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner so
to enable eligible homeowners and tenants to comply with their rent, mortgage,
and utilities obligations. The Commissioner of Community Affairs may implement
this program through the award of contracts, or through the delegation of its
authority to award grants, to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies,
or both. To be eligible for a grant under this program, a homeowner or tenant
shall not be eligible for, or a recipient of
funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity
which may be considered a duplication of benefits.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes a FY 2020 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10,000,000 to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to the NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program to fund financial assistance grants to New Jersey residents who suffered financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill provides that $5 million would be appropriated from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for rent and mortgage assistance and $5 million would be appropriated from the Universal Service Fund for utility payment assistance. The bill directs the commissioner to design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with the bill in order to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner so to enable them to comply with their rent, mortgage, and utilities obligations.
The bill directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to award grants to homeowners and to residential tenants who suffered financial loss during the declaration of a Public Health Emergency and of a State of Emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019. To be eligible for a grant under this program a homeowner or tenant may not be eligible for, or a recipient of funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity.
The bill authorizes the commissioner to implement this program through the award of contracts, or through the delegation of its authority to award grants, to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or both.