S1533

SENATE, No. 1533

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 3, 1996

By Senator EWING

An Act concerning alcohol and drug abuse prevention resource centers, amending P.L.1990, c.41 and P.L.1983, c.531 and making an appropriation.

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

1. Section 2 of P.L.1990, c.41 (C.54:43-1.1) is amended to read as follows:

2. Beginning on July 1, [1992] 1997 there shall annually be deposited in the Alcoholic Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-32), the sum of [$11,000,000] $13,908,000 of the tax collected annually pursuant to the "Alcoholic beverage tax law," R.S.54:41-1 et seq.

(cf: P.L.1990, c.41, s.2)

2. Section 3 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-32) is amended to read as follows:

3. An Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund is established as a nonlapsing, revolving fund in a separate account in the Department of Health and Senior Services. The fund shall be credited from July 1, 1990 through June 30, 1991, with 27.6% of the tax revenues, and from July 1, 1991 through June 30, 1992, with 53.3% of the tax revenues, collected pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1980, c.62 (C.54:32C-3), the amount thereof to be dedicated 75% to rehabilitation, 15% to enforcement and 10% to education, and the fund thereafter shall be annually credited with the amount of tax revenues collected from the alcoholic beverage tax as is provided in section 2 of P.L.1990, c.41 (C.54:43-1.1), which amount shall be dedicated 75% to rehabilitation, 15% to enforcement and 10% to education. However, monies in the fund shall first be allocated to the Department of Health and Senior Services for distribution to member councils of the New Jersey Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Inc., in an amount equal to $0.25 per capita, or $100,000, whichever amount is greater, for each county in which a member council is located or operating. The New Jersey Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Inc., shall receive an additional amount from the fund equal to $0.05 per capita for the State. The Statewide council and any member council receiving moneys pursuant to this paragraph shall comply with any standards of operation, drug and alcohol abuse program initiatives that focus on under-served and high-risk populations, and matching requirements that shall be established by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, after consultation with the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse created pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1989, c.51 (C.26:2BB-2).

Interest received on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Pursuant to the formula set forth in section 5 of this act, moneys appropriated pursuant to law shall only be distributed to the counties by the Department of Health and Senior Services, without the assessment of administrative costs, to develop and implement an annual comprehensive plan for the treatment of alcoholics and drug abusers and for expenditures according to the dedications provided herein.

(cf: P.L.1990, c.41, s.4)

3. (New section) There is appropriated $2,908,000 from the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund to the Department of Health and Senior Services for grants to the New Jersey Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Inc., and member councils pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-32). The purpose of the grants is to develop, implement and maintain a Statewide network of prevention resource centers to act as training, technical assistance and education material distributors to other professionals and organizations providing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention services.

4. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1997.

STATEMENT

This bill will provide for the development, implementation and maintenance of a Statewide network of prevention resource centers to serve the public and substance abuse professionals.

The bill will provide $2,908,000 in funds to the county-based member councils and the Statewide council in Fiscal Year 1998. The bill increases the amount of funding from the "Alcoholic beverage tax law," from $11,000,000 to $13,908,000 that is dedicated to the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund, and provides that the monies in the fund shall first be allocated for grants to member councils in an amount equal to $0.25 per capita, or $100,000, whichever amount is greater, and to the Statewide council in an amount equal to $.05 per capita ($393,950) for the State. Presently, the monies in the fund are dedicated 75% to rehabilitation, 15% to enforcement and 10% to education.

The monies in the bill would be provided to the State council and its member councils on the condition that they comply with the requirements of the Department of Health and Senior Services for: (1) standards of operation (2) matching funds, and (3) program initiatives for under-served and high-risk populations.

Presently, there are 19 county-based councils on alcoholism and drug abuse in the State. The county councils provide information, referral and intervention assistance to those in need of help for alcohol or other drug related problems. The State and county councils also operate a 24-hour toll-free information and referral hotline. Presently, the county-based councils each receive grants of $75,000 a year from the Department of Health and Senior Services from federal Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health block grant funds. The State council is also funded by the federal block grant.

Establishes a Statewide network of prevention resource centers by allocation of certain alcoholic beverage taxes; appropriates $2,908,000.