ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5887

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 16, 2021

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5887.

      This bill appropriates a total of $6,608,212 from the “Securing Our Children’s Future Fund” to the Department of Education (DOE) to provide grants for water infrastructure projects in New Jersey school districts.  Under the bill, $5,608,212 is appropriated for the purposes of providing grants to school districts, while $1,000,000 is appropriated for the administrative costs of the DOE in implementing current and future grants for eligible projects.

      Under the “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” P.L.2018, c.119, a total of $500 million in general obligation bonds was authorized to be allocated as grants for the costs of career and technical education expansion grants, school security projects, and school district water infrastructure improvement grants.  These bond funds were approved by New Jersey voters on November 6, 2018. 

      Of the total $500 million amount, $100 million was dedicated for grants to school districts for water infrastructure improvement projects that aimed to remediate drinking water contamination.  Under regulations promulgated pursuant to the bond act, eligible projects generally include: 1) improvements to drinking water outlets with a detectable level of lead or other contaminants; and 2) whole system remediation. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.