SENATE, No. 1652

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 28, 1996

 

 

By Senators MARTIN, KYRILLOS, Baer, Singer, Cafiero, Bennett and Bryant

 

 

An Act reappropriating $8,036,000 from the "Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Fund," established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres, Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.265, to assist projects for cultural center development, and providing for cancellation of certain previous appropriations from the fund.

 

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

 

    1. a. There is reappropriated $8,036,000 to the State Council on the Arts in the Department of State for the purpose of awarding grants to assist projects for cultural center development, which sum shall include administrative costs, from the unexpended balances of amounts previously appropriated pursuant to P.L.1989, c.349, P.L.1991, c.251 and P.L.1993, c.191 from the "Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Fund," created pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1987, c.265, to the extent the unexpended balances are available due to project cancellation or withdrawal or the inability to execute contract with grant applicant as of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), as determined by the State Council on the Arts. The following projects are eligible for funding from this reappropriation up to amounts listed herein and subject to grant awards:

 

The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival............................$2,500,000

The John Harms Theater..................................................2,108,000

The Jersey City Museum..................................................2,000,000

Burlington County College.................................................530,000

The South Jersey Performing Arts Center............................500,000

Cumberland County College...............................................398,000

TOTAL...........................................................................$8,036,000

 

    b. Appropriations previously made pursuant to P.L.1989, c.349, P.L.1991, c.251 and P.L.1993, c.191 from the "Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Fund," created pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1987, c.265, are hereby canceled to the extent of any unexpended balances in amounts in excess of the reappropriation made in subsection a. of this section that are available due to project cancellation or withdrawal or the inability to execute contract with grant applicant as of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), as determined by the State Council on the Arts.

    c. The State Council on the Arts shall report to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee within 30 days following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. )(now pending before the Legislature as this bill) the amount of bond funds previously appropriated pursuant to P.L.1989, c.349, P.L.1991, c.251 and P.L.1993, c.191 that remain unexpended as of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill) due to project cancellation, withdrawal or inability to execute contract with grant applicant and the reasons for any cancellation or withdrawal or inability to execute a contract.

    d. The expenditure of the funds reappropriated by this section is subject to the provisions and conditions of P.L.1987, c.265.

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill reappropriates $8,036,000 from the "Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Fund," established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres, Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.265, for cultural projects approved for funding under Round IV of the Cultural Centers Bond Issue Program. The six projects recommended for funding were the most favorably evaluated among the 44 applications received in Round IV of the bond program to build, expand or renovate cultural centers. An independent panel composed of six people, expert in various aspects for cultural center design, construction and operation, reviewed and evaluated each proposal. With the approval of the projects included in this bill, a total of 19 different cultural center projects will have been funded under the bond program.

    According to the State Council on the Arts, approximately $8,787,622 in previously appropriated bond funds remain unexpended due to project cancellation or withdrawal, or the inability to execute a contract with a grant applicant; therefore, the bill reappropriates a portion of these unexpended funds for the listed projects, and cancels the previous appropriation for any unexpended funds in excess of the amount reappropriated. The determination that the funds are unexpended due to cancellation or withdrawal or the inability to execute a contract will be made by the State Council on the Arts.

 

 

                             

 

Reappropriates $8,036,000 from "Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Fund" to State Council on the Arts for construction, expansion or renovation of cultural centers; cancels certain previous appropriations.