ASSEMBLY, No. 97

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman ROONEY and Assemblywoman VANDERVALK

An Act permitting certain contributions by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 32 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. Pursuant to the provisions of section 32:17-5 of the Compact of June 2, 1937, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (hereinafter, "the commission") may make a voluntary contribution of not more than $35,000 annually to any first aid and emergency or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad association, or any volunteer fire company or fire district providing first aid and emergency ambulance or rescue services, established or incorporated pursuant to law in the State of New Jersey and rendering service in municipalities or counties containing, adjacent to, or within reasonable response distance from the New Jersey portion of the Palisades Interstate Park for services provided therein. If any such association experiences extraordinary need, the commission may contribute an additional amount of not more than $35,000 annually; provided, however, that the need for such additional funds is established by the association and is directly related to the performance of the association's duties. Whenever the total annual contribution to an association exceeds $35,000, the commission shall receive an audit performed by a certified public accountant or a registered municipal accountant of each association's financial records for the current year which shall certify to the commission that such records are being maintained in accordance with sound accounting principles.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill permits the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to contribute funds to volunteer first aid, rescue and ambulance squads, and to volunteer fire companies and fire districts that provide first aid, rescue and ambulance services, for such services in the New Jersey portion of the Palisades Interstate Park.

    The amounts and conditions are essentially the same as those provided by law for similar contributions by counties and municipalities in this State, except that this bill does not contain a provision for capital purchases by the commission for use by the volunteer associations.

Permits certain contributions by Palisades Interstate Park Commission.