Approp.

 


P.L. 2021, CHAPTER 146, approved July 1, 2021

Assembly, No. 5887

 

 


An Act concerning project grants under the “Securing Our Children’s Future Fund” for water infrastructure projects in certain school districts and making an appropriation.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1. a. There is appropriated from the “Securing Our Children’s Future Fund,” established pursuant to section 13 of P.L.2018, c.119, to the Department of Education the sum of $5,608,212 to provide grants for water infrastructure improvement projects in school districts. Project grants shall be approved in the amounts set forth in subsection b. of this section.

     b.    Project grants shall be awarded in the amounts as follows:

     (1)   $19,838 to the Buena Regional School District in Atlantic County;

     (2)   $22,435 to the Folsom Borough School District in Atlantic County;

     (3)   $12,280 to the Galloway Township School District in Atlantic County;

     (4)   $53,132 to the Bergenfield Borough School District in Bergen County;

     (5)   $30,993 to the Bogota Public School District in Bergen County;

     (6)   $109,600 to the Cresskill Public School District in Bergen County;

     (7)   $6,778 to the North Arlington School District in Bergen County;

     (8)   $30,382 to the Oakland Public School District in Bergen County;

     (9)   $28,211 to the Ramsey School District in Bergen County;

     (10) $9,311 to the Waldwick School District in Bergen County;

     (11) $18,011 to the Burlington City Public School District in Burlington County;

     (12) $1,049 to the Voorhees Township School District in Camden County;

     (13) $278,149 to the Waterford Township School District in Camden County;

     (14) $122,050 to the Bridgeton City School District in Cumberland County;

     (15) $4,061,618 to the Jersey City Public Schools in Hudson County;

     (16) $204,094 to the South Hunterdon Regional School District, Hunterdon County;

     (17) $16,812 to the Hamilton Township Public School District in Mercer County;

     (18) $2,111 to the New Brunswick School District in Middlesex County;

     (19) $5,670 to the South River Public School District in Middlesex County;

     (20) $70,721 to the Shore Regional High School District in Monmouth County;

     (21) $11,715 to the Madison Public School District in Morris County;

     (22) $395,872 to the Passaic City School District in Passaic County;

     (23) $16,454 to the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District in Sussex County;

     (24) $41,728 to the Stillwater Township School District in Sussex County;

     (25) $13,198 to the Vernon Township School District in Sussex County; and

     (26) $26,000 to the Plainfield Public School District in Union County.

 

     2.    There is appropriated from the “Securing Our Children’s Future Fund” to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000 for the administrative costs of the agency in implementing current and future grants for eligible projects pursuant to the provisions of the “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” P.L.2018, c.119. 

 

     3.    The expenditure of sums appropriated by this act shall be subject to the provisions and conditions of the “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” P.L.2018, 119.

 

     4.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     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. 

 

 

                                

 

     Awards project grants under “Securing Our Children’s Future Fund” for water infrastructure projects in certain school districts; appropriates $6,608,212.