SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2157

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 19, 1997

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2157.

      Senate Bill No. 2157 appropriates $31,555,000 from the Developmental Disabilities’ Waiting List Reduction and Human Services Facilities Construction Fund, created by the “Developmental Disabilities’ Waiting List Reduction and Human Services Facilities Construction Bond Act of 1994,” P.L.1994, c.108, for community -based project grants. The funds appropriated by the bill for the Division of Developmental Disabilities will be used for projects to reduce the division’s community services waiting list.

      In addition, the bill:

      * Requires the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) to be notified of the agencies that will receive funds, the amount of funds, the manner in which the funds are to be used, and the estimated amount of State funds required to operate a program. Unless JBOC formally notifies the Commissioner of Human Services within 10 working days that it does not approve of the specific project, the department may award the funds. This provision will not apply to funds for renovations that do not increase the capacity of a facility, for emergency repairs and for life-safety and accreditation improvements to existing facilities.

      * Permits the Commissioner of Human Services to provide grants to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and other similar agencies established by the State, or to private, nonprofit entities. These agencies or entities may leverage the grants, use equity contributions and take advantage of other financial mechanisms and create revolving funds for community capital projects. The bill also contains certain requirements concerning application fees and equity contributions.

      * Permits the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting to make those corrections in the title or text, or both, of any appropriation item authorized under this bill necessary to make the appropriation available for the purposes for which it was intended.

      * Permits the use of funds for predesign program planning and other related costs for capital projects authorized under this bill.

      * Permits the Commissioner of Human Services to apply to the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting for permission to transfer a part of any item or appropriation to any other item or appropriation within the respective department accounts, with the approval of JBOC.

      * Require the Commissioner of Human Services to report to JBOC on the status of the appropriation provided in this bill within 12 months from the effective date and annually thereafter until all of the funds have been expended.

      With this bill, a total of $53,755,000 of the $130 million authorized for community programs will have been appropriated from the 1994 bond act, including $26.3 million for Division of Developmental Disabilities projects to reduce the community waiting list.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3059 (Rooney/Heck).

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill appropriates $31,555,000 from the Developmental Disabilities' Waiting List Reduction and Human Services Facilities Construction Fund as follows: $15,650,000 for the Division of Developmental Disabilities; $7,550,000 for the Division of Mental Health Services; $2,600,000 for the Division of Youth and Family Services; $1,255,000 for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; and $4,500,000 for the Department of Human Services for housing innovation and other capital projects.