ASSEMBLY, No. 815

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblymen ARNONE and BUCCO

An Act establishing the "Department of Human Services Trust Fund" and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. There is established in the Department of Human Services a restricted, nonlapsing, revolving fund to be known as the "Department of Human Services Trust Fund," hereinafter referred to as the "fund." The State Treasurer shall credit the fund with all moneys received by the State from sales of State owned property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services pursuant to P.L.1956, c.223 (C.30:1-24 et seq.). Any interest earned on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The fund shall be administered by the Commissioner of Human Services. Moneys in the fund shall be used exclusively for capital and equipment costs associated with the development of community housing for the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled and retirement of debt incurred as a result of acquisition of capital that has been approved by the department.

    2. The Governor's annual budget message shall include a schedule reflecting the actual proceeds credited to the fund in the prior fiscal year, the amount anticipated to be credited to the fund in the upcoming year, actual expenditures from the fund in the prior fiscal year and proposed appropriations from the fund for the upcoming year.

    3. Prior to the expenditure of moneys from the fund, the commissioner shall provide written notification to the Senate Budget and Appropriations and the Assembly Appropriations Committees, or their successors, of the proposed project to be undertaken and its estimated cost.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all land sales completed on or after the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill establishes a dedicated fund, to be known as the "Department of Human Services Trust Fund," and administered by the Commissioner of Human Services, in which the proceeds of all land sales involving property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services will be deposited, along with any interest earned by the fund. The moneys are to be used for capital and equipment costs associated with the development of community housing for the mentally ill and the developmentally disabled and retirement of debt incurred as a result of acquisition of capital that has been approved by the department.

    The bill provides that the Governor's annual budget message shall include a schedule reflecting the actual proceeds credited to the fund in the prior fiscal year, the amount anticipated to be credited to the fund in the upcoming year, actual expenditures from the fund in the prior fiscal year and proposed appropriations from the fund for the upcoming year.

    Finally, the bill stipulates that prior to the expenditure of moneys from the fund, the commissioner shall provide written notification to the Senate Budget and Appropriations and the Assembly Appropriations Committees, or their successors, of the proposed project to be undertaken and its estimated cost.

Establishes the "Department of Human Services Trust Fund."