SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1663

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 16, 2021

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1663 (2R).

      As reported by the committee, this bill makes permanent the three-year "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Pilot Program" established in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) by P.L.2017, c.246.  This pilot program expired on January 10, 2020. 

      The bill establishes the permanent "New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program" (NJNSGP) to provide grants from annually appropriated funds to eligible nonprofit organizations at the greatest risk of attack to: (1) hire certain permanent or temporary security personnel; and (2) acquire target hardening equipment.

      The bill specifically requires the OHSP to request annually as part of its budget proposal at least $2,000,000 for the NJNSGP to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for the purpose of preparing against terrorist attacks, threats, domestic extremism, or other violent acts.  These organizations may apply for up to $10,000 in grants for the costs of permanent or temporary security personnel and up to $50,000 for acquiring target hardening equipment.  OHSP may adjust the grant amounts based upon the final availability of funds, analytical trends, and emerging threats. 

      Eligible nonprofit organizations under the bill are nonprofit organizations which are located in the State and are exempt from federal taxation pursuant to federal law.  Security personnel includes federal, State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers, special law enforcement officers, and licensed security officers.  The grant can cover the costs of hiring security personnel for an event that is within the State, but away from the applicant’s location, for which the applicant is legally liable.  Grant funds under the bill may only be used for security investments within the State and are prohibited from being used to support security needs while traveling out of the State. 

      Applicants for grants from the program are permitted to apply for either security personnel or equipment grants, or both, in each year of the program, but OHSP may only award funds for either security personnel or equipment in a fiscal year.  The OHSP is to give preference to applicants who have not received a grant within the last two grant cycles.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1842 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds the cost of this legislation to be indeterminate.  While the bill requires the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), in, but not of, the Department of Law and Public Safety to annually request an appropriation of at least $2 million to fund and administer the program, it is uncertain how many eligible nonprofit organizations will apply for funding and demonstrate certain security needs.

      The OLS notes the bill would make permanent the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a three-year pilot program established in the OHSP in 2017. 

      The bill requires the OHSP to provide to eligible nonprofit organizations maximum grants of up to $10,000 to hire permanent or temporary security personnel and up to $50,000 to acquire target hardening equipment for the purpose of preparing against threats, attacks, or other violent acts.  Five percent of the appropriated funds are to be allocated to the OHSP for the administration of the grant program.  The OLS notes these provisions are consistent with requirements in the expired three-year pilot program.