ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2515

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 12, 1997

      The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably Assembly, No. 2515.

      This bill provides for the construction of a new juvenile justice correctional facility with proceeds from the sale of the bonds proposed for issuance by Senate Bill No. 295 of 1996 (now before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee), subject to voter approval.

      The bill specifies that no such facility may be constructed in any municipality without the approval of that municipality by ordinance.

      The bill authorizes the State to enter into an agreement with a municipality serving as host to the facility to provide any of various benefits. The benefits so authorized include payments in lieu of taxes; annual "Safe and Secure Communities" grants to provide additional law enforcement officers; reimbursement of any actual and direct law enforcement costs the host municipality may incur in providing mutual assistance or other support services to the facility; preferential employment opportunities at the facility for residents of the host municipality; and the establishment of an "Income Tax Reinvestment Zone" in which the State would agree to annually remit to the host municipality up to 75% of the income tax revenue it collects from the employees of the facility, which amounts would have to be used to provide property tax relief to the residential property owners of the host municipality.

      The bill directs the State to dispose of any property it currently uses as a residential training or custodial facility for more than 250 juveniles that is located in a county of the second class having a population in excess of 600,000 and to utilize moneys realized from such disposition defray the cost of constructing a new facility.

      Finally, the bill prohibits the expenditure of any bond moneys for the renovation, rehabilitation or expansion of any existing residential training or custodial facility that is designed to house more than 350 juveniles and located in a county of the second class that has a population in excess of 600,000 without the approval of the host municipality. If the host municipality does give its approval for any such renovation, rehabilitation or expansion, it would become eligible to participate in the host benefit program.