CHAPTER 119

 

An Act authorizing the expenditure of funds by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for the purpose of making loans to eligible project sponsors to finance a portion of the cost of construction of environmental infrastructure projects, and making an appropriation.

 

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

 

     1. a. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, established pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) (hereinafter referred to as "the trust"), is authorized to expend the aggregate sum of up to $1.782 billion and any uncommitted balance of the aggregate expenditures authorized pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2000, c.93, section 1 of P.L.2001, c.224, section 1 of P.L.2002, c.71, section 1 of P.L.2003, c.159, section 1 of P.L.2004, c.110, section 1 of P.L.2005, c.197, section 1 of P.L.2006, c.67, section 1 of P.L.2007, c.140, section 1 of P.L.2008, c.67, section 1 of P.L.2009, c.101, section 1 of P.L.2010, c.62, section 1 of P.L.2011, c.95, section 1 of P.L.2012, c.38, section 1 of P.L.2013, c.94, section 1 of P.L.2014, c.26, section 1 of P.L.2015, c.107, section 1 of P.L.2016, c.31, as amended by P.L.2017, c.13, section 1 of P.L.2017, c.142, as amended by P.L.2017, c.327, P.L.2018, c.84, as amended by P.L.2019, c.30, section 1 of P.L.2019, c.192, as amended by P.L.2019, c.515, and P.L.2020, c.48, as amended by P.L.2021, c.22, section 1 of P.L.2021, c.204, as amended by P.L.2021, c.316, and P.L.2022, c.100, as amended by P.L.2023, c.5, for the purpose of making loans, to the extent sufficient funds are available, to or on behalf of local government units or public water utilities (hereinafter referred to as "project sponsors") to finance all or a portion of the cost of construction of environmental infrastructure projects listed in sections 2 and 4 of this act.

     b.    The trust is authorized to increase the aggregate sums specified in subsection a. of this section by:

     (1) the amounts of capitalized interest, interest accrued pursuant to a short-term or temporary loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Interim Environmental Financing Program, administrative expenses associated with any federal funding programs, if applicable, and the bond issuance expenses as provided in subsection b. of section 7 of this act;

     (2) the amounts of reserve capacity expenses and debt service reserve fund requirements as provided in subsection c. of section 7 of this act;

     (3) the interest earned on amounts deposited for project costs pending their distribution to project sponsors as provided in subsection d. of section 7 of this act;

     (4) the amounts of the loan origination fee as provided in subsection e. of section 7 of this act;

     (5) the amount appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of making zero-interest and principal forgiveness loans pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2023, c.120 in connection with the project costs of a particular project sponsor, to the extent the priority ranking or an insufficiency of funding prevent the department from meeting program demand as provided in subsection f. of section 7 of this act; and

     (6) any funds transferred to the trust by the department pursuant to paragraph (21) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.120.

     c. (1) Of the sums made available to the trust from the "Water Supply Trust Fund" established pursuant to subsection a. of section 15 of the "Water Supply Bond Act of 1981" (P.L.1981, c.261), pursuant to P.L.1997, c.223, the trust is authorized to transfer such amounts to the Department of Environmental Protection as needed for drinking water project loans pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996," Pub.L.104-182, and any amendatory and supplementary acts thereto (hereinafter referred to as the "Federal Safe Drinking Water Act"), under terms and conditions established by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the trust, and approved by the State Treasurer, which loans shall be jointly administered by the trust and department.

     (2) Of the sums appropriated to the trust from the "Wastewater Treatment Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 15 of the "Wastewater Treatment Bond Act of 1985," (P.L.1985, c.329), pursuant to P.L.1987, c.198, the trust is authorized to transfer such amounts as needed to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2009, c.77 for the purposes of issuing loans or providing the State match as required for the award of capitalization grants made available to the State for clean water projects pursuant to the "Water Quality Act of 1987" (33 U.S.C. s.1251 et seq.), and any amendatory and supplementary acts thereto (hereinafter referred to as the "Federal Clean Water Act").

     (3) Of the sums appropriated to the trust from the "1992 Wastewater Treatment Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 27 of the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992" (P.L.1992, c.88), pursuant to P.L.1996, c.86, the trust is authorized to transfer such amounts as needed to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of providing the State match as required for the award of capitalization grants made available to the State for clean water projects pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act.

     (4) Of the sums appropriated to the trust from the "Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Fund" created pursuant to section 14 of the "Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.181, pursuant to P.L.1998, c.87, the trust is authorized to transfer such amounts as needed to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of providing the State match as required for the award of capitalization grants made available to the State for clean water projects pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act.

     (5) Of the sums appropriated to the trust from the "2003 Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Trust Fund" established pursuant to subsection b. of section 19 of the "Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources, and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act of 2003" (P.L.2003, c.162), pursuant to P.L.2004, c.110, the trust is authorized to transfer such amounts as needed to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of providing the State match as required for the award of capitalization grants made available to the State for clean water projects pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act.

     (6) Of the sums appropriated to the trust from repayments of loans deposited in any account, including the "Clean Water State Revolving Fund," "Wastewater Treatment Fund," the "1992 Wastewater Treatment Fund," the "Water Supply Fund," the "Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Fund" or the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, as appropriate, pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1995, c.219, sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1996, c.85, sections 11 and 12 of P.L.1997, c.221, sections 12 and 13 of P.L.1998, c.84, section 11 of P.L.1999, c.174, section 11 of P.L.2000, c.92, section 11 of P.L.2001, c.222, section 11 of P.L.2002, c.70, section 11 of P.L.2003, c.158, section 11 of P.L.2004, c.109, section 11 of P.L.2005, c.196, section 11 of P.L.2006, c.68, section 10 of P.L.2007, c.140, section 10 of P.L.2008, c.67, section 10 of P.L.2009, c.101, section 10 of P.L.2010, c.62, section 10 of P.L.2011, c.95, section 10 of P.L.2012, c.38, section 10 of P.L.2013, c.94, section 10 of P.L.2014, c.26, section 10 of P.L.2015, c.107, section 10 of P.L.2016, c.31, section 10 of P.L.2017, c.142, as amended by section 10 of P.L.2017, c.327, section 10 of P.L.2018, c.84, as amended by P.L.2019, c.30, section 10 of P.L.2019, c.192, as amended by section 10 of P.L.2019, c.515, section 10 of P.L.2020, c.48, as amended by P.L.2021, c.22, section 10 of P.L.2021, c.204, as amended by P.L.2021, c.316, section 10 of P.L.2022 c.100, as amended by P.L.2023, c.5, and section 10 of P.L.2023, c.119, for deposit into one or more reserve funds or accounts established by the trust pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-11), the trust shall transfer to the respective fund of origin the uncommitted balance of all such moneys no longer utilized by the trust for such purposes.

     d.    For the purposes of this act:

     (1) "capitalized interest" means the amount equal to interest paid on trust bonds which is funded with trust bond proceeds and the earnings thereon;

     (2) "debt service reserve fund expenses" means the debt service reserve fund costs associated with reserve capacity expenses, water supply projects for which the project sponsors are public water utilities as provided in section 9 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-9), other drinking water projects not eligible for, or interested in, State or federal debt service reserve funds pursuant to the "Water Supply Bond Act of 1981," P.L.1981, c.261 as amended and supplemented by P.L.1997, c.223, and any clean water projects not eligible for, or interested in, State or federal debt service reserve funds from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund;

     (3) "issuance expenses" means any costs related to the issuance of trust bonds and includes, but is not limited to, the costs of financial document printing, bond insurance premiums or other credit enhancement, underwriters' discount, verification of financial calculations, the services of bond rating agencies and trustees, the employment of accountants, attorneys, financial advisors, loan servicing agents, registrars, and paying agents.

     (4) "loan origination fee" means the fee charged by the Department of Environmental Protection and financed under the trust loan to pay a portion of the costs incurred by the department in the implementation of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program; and

     (5) "reserve capacity expenses" means those project costs for reserve capacity not eligible for loans under rules and regulations governing zero interest loans adopted by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.329 but which are eligible for loans from the trust in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27).

     e.     The trust is authorized to increase the loan amount in the future to compensate for a refunding of the issue, provided adequate savings are achieved, for the loans issued pursuant to P.L.1995, c.218, P.L.1996, c.87, P.L.1997, c.222, P.L.1998, c.85, P.L.1999, c.173, P.L.2000, c.93, P.L.2001, c.224, P.L.2002, c.71, P.L.2003, c.159, P.L.2004, c.110, P.L.2005, c.197, P.L.2006, c.67, P.L.2007, c.140, P.L.2008, c.67, P.L.2009, c.101, P.L.2010, c.62, P.L.2011, c.95, P.L.2012, c.38, P.L.2013, c.94, P.L.2014, c.26, P.L.2015, c.107, P.L.2016, c.31, as amended by P.L.2017, c.13, P.L.2017, c.142, as amended by P.L.2017, c.327, P.L.2018, c.84, as amended by P.L.2019, c.30, P.L.2019, c.192, as amended by P.L.2019, c.515, P.L.2020, c.48, as amended by P.L.2021, c.22, P.L.2021, c.204, as amended by P.L.2021, c.316, P.L.2022, c.100, as amended by P.L.2023, c.5, and section 10 of P.L.2023, c.119.

     2. a. (1) The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank is authorized to expend funds for the purpose of making supplemental loans to or on behalf of the project sponsors listed below for the following clean water environmental infrastructure projects:

 

Project Sponsor            Project Number          Estimated Allowable                       Estimated Total

                                                                          Trust Loan Amount                           Loan Amount

Clinton Town                S340924-07R              $600,000                                                     $800,000

Hoboken City                S340635-06R              $30,000,000                                            $40,000,000

Jersey City MUA           S340928-15R              $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

Newark City                  S340815-24R              $15,750,000                                            $21,000,000

North Bergen MUA       S340652-14R              $6,150,000                                               $8,200,000

Ocean Township SA      S340750-14R              $1,500,000                                               $2,000,000

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-40R              $1,125,000                                               $1,500,000

Paterson City                 S340850-03-1              $1,912,500                                               $2,550,000

Plumsted Township       S340607-03R              $7,500,000                                              $10,000,000

Rutgers University         S340500-01R              $3,150,000                                               $4,200,000

Somerville Borough      S342013-01-1              $1,387,500                                               $1,850,000

Total Projects: 11                                            $71,700,000                                            $95,600,000

 

     (2) A loan authorized by this subsection shall be made for the difference between the allowable loan amount required by the project based upon final building costs pursuant to subsection a. of section 7 of this act and the loan amount certified by the chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary of the trust in State fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 and for increased allowable costs as defined and determined in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27).  A loan authorized by this subsection shall be made to or on behalf of the project sponsor listed, up to the individual amount indicated and in the priority stated, to the extent sufficient funds are available, except if a project fails to meet the requirements of section 6 of this act.

     (3) The loans for projects authorized by this subsection shall have priority over the environmental infrastructure projects listed in subsection a. of section 4 of this act.

     b. (1) The trust is authorized to expend funds for the purpose of making supplemental loans to or on behalf of the project sponsors listed below for the following drinking water environmental infrastructure projects:

 

Project Sponsor            Project Number          Estimated Allowable                       Estimated Total

                                                                          Trust Loan Amount                           Loan Amount

National Park                0812001-004R             $750,000                                                  $1,000,000

  Borough

North Jersey                  1613001-025R             $19,125,000                                            $25,500,000

  District WSC

Total Projects: 2                                              $19,875,000                                            $26,500,000

 

     (2) A loan authorized by this subsection shall be made for the difference between the allowable loan amount required by the project based upon final building costs pursuant to subsection a. of section 7 of this act and the loan amount certified by the chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary of the trust in State fiscal year 2017, 2019, and 2020 and for increased allowable costs as defined and determined in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27).  A loan authorized by this subsection shall be made to or on behalf of the project sponsor listed, up to the individual amount indicated and in the priority stated, to the extent sufficient funds are available, except if a project fails to meet the requirements of section 6 of this act.

     (3) The loans for projects authorized by this subsection shall have priority over environmental infrastructure projects listed in subsection b. of section 4 of this act.

     c.     The trust is authorized to adjust the allowable trust loan amount for the projects authorized in this section to between zero percent and 100 percent of the total allowable loan amount.

 

     3. a. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank is authorized to make loans to or on behalf of the project sponsors for the clean water projects listed in subsection a. of section 2 and subsection a. of section 4 of this act up to the individual amounts indicated and in the priority stated, except that any such amount may be reduced by the trust pursuant to subsection a. of section 7 of this act, or if a project fails to meet the requirements of section 6 of this act.  The trust is authorized to increase any such amount pursuant to subsections b., c., d., e., or f. of section 7 of this act, or pursuant to section 8 of this act.

     b.    The trust is authorized to make loans to project sponsors for the drinking water projects listed in subsection b. of section 4 of this act up to the individual amounts indicated and in the priority stated, except that any such amount may be reduced by the trust pursuant to subsection a. of section 7 of this act, or if a project fails to meet the requirements of section 6 of this act.  The trust is authorized to increase any such amount pursuant to subsections b., c., d., e., or f. of section 7 of this act, or pursuant to section 8 of this act.

     c.     The trust is authorized to make loans to local government units for clean water and drinking water projects partially funded from the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1985, c.302 for the balance of allowable project costs up to the individual amounts indicated, provided that any such amount may be reduced by the trust pursuant to subsection a. of section 7 of this act, or if a project fails to meet the requirements of section 6 of this act.  There is appropriated to the trust from the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 14 of the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.302, an amount sufficient to implement the provisions of this subsection.

     The following local government units are eligible for funding from the "Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Fund" and for loans from the trust in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27) for the following clean water and drinking water projects:

Project Sponsor                              Project Number                         Estimated Total Loan Amount

Pemberton Twp.                              Pinelands 1                                                                 $2,929,000

Manchester Twp./

Jackson MUA                                  Pinelands 2                                                                 $7,192,035

Galloway Twp.                                Pinelands 4                                                                 $3,493,440

Winslow Twp.                                 Pinelands 5                                                                 $1,728,940

Total Pinelands Projects: 4                                                                                            $15,343,415

 

     4. a. The following environmental infrastructure projects shall be known and may be cited as the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Water Project Eligibility List":

 

Project Sponsor            Project Number          Estimated Allowable                       Estimated Total

                                                                          Trust Loan Amount                           Loan Amount

Musconetcong SA         S340384-09                 $4,650,000                                               $6,200,000

Oakland Borough          S340418-06                 $5,790,000                                               $7,720,000

Rahway Valley SA        S340547-17                 $4,350,000                                               $5,800,000

Mendham Borough        S340159-04                 $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

Camden County            S340640-29                 $9,525,000                                              $12,700,000

  MUA

Montgomery                  S340130-03                 $16,500,000                                            $22,000,000

  Township

Newark City                  S340815-26                 $3,300,000                                               $4,400,000

Camden City                 S340366-07                 $7,500,000                                              $10,000,000

Camden City                 S340366-15                 $9,997,500                                              $13,330,000

Middlesex County         S340699-17                 $19,500,000                                            $26,000,000

  UA

Jersey City MUA           S340928-40                 $6,000,000                                               $8,000,000

Jersey City MUA           S340928-21                 $9,750,000                                              $13,000,000

Jersey City MUA           S340928-24                 $93,750,000                                          $125,000,000

Elizabeth City                S340942-20                 $7,725,000                                              $10,300,000

Elizabeth City                S345070-01                 $3,000,001                                               $4,000,001

Bayonne City                S340399-31                 $3,750,000                                               $5,000,000

Kearny Town                S340259-11                 $12,750,000                                            $17,000,000

Long Branch SA            S340336-08                 $1,305,525                                               $1,740,700

Ocean County UA         S340372-64                 $37,500,000                                            $50,000,000

Mount Laurel                 S340943-06                 $7,875,000                                              $10,500,000

 Township MUA

North Hudson SA          S340952-33                 $20,250,000                                            $27,000,000

North Hudson SA          S340952-39                 $13,500,000                                            $18,000,000

Riverside SA                 S340490-01                 $630,000                                                     $840,000

Perth Amboy City          S340435-19                 $300,000                                                     $400,000

Perth Amboy City          S345220-01                 $2,437,500                                               $3,250,000

Hackensack City           S340923-13                 $12,750,000                                            $17,000,000

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-44                 $18,000,000                                            $24,000,000

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-52                 $50,250,000                                            $67,000,000

Pennsville SA                S340870-05                 $3,000,000                                               $4,000,000

Beach Haven                 S344220-01                 $2,700,000                                               $3,600,000

  Borough

Logan Township           S340123-02                 $9,000,000                                              $12,000,000

  MUA

Bergen County UA        S340386-21                 $5,700,000                                               $7,600,000

Bergen County UA        S340386-23                 $37,500,000                                            $50,000,000

Bergen County UA        S340386-24                 $1,462,500                                               $1,950,000

Linden Roselle SA         S340299-08                 $20,250,000                                            $27,000,000

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-50                 $6,600,000                                               $8,800,000

Wanaque Valley RSA    S340780-05                 $8,625,000                                              $11,500,000

Gloucester County         S340902-15                 $10,875,000                                            $14,500,000

  UA

Stony Brook RSA          S340400-11                 $16,500,000                                            $22,000,000

Evesham MUA              S340838-09                 $375,000                                                     $500,000

Bergen County UA        S340386-26                 $4,500,000                                               $6,000,000

Ocean County               S344080-10                 $187,500                                                     $250,000

Ocean County               S344080-11                 $262,500                                                     $350,000

Rockaway Valley          S340821-08                 $11,625,000                                            $15,500,000

  RSA

Wildwood City              S340664-06                 $12,000,000                                            $16,000,000

New Jersey Water          S340421-02                 $71,250,000                                            $95,000,000

  Supply Authority

Camden County MUA   S340640-36                 $11,625,000                                            $15,500,000

Long Branch SA            S340336-09                 $4,200,000                                               $5,600,000

Stafford Township        S340946-08                 $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

Stafford Township        S340946-09                 $3,510,000                                               $4,680,000

Metuchen Borough        S340360-02                 $6,750,000                                               $9,000,000

Somerville Borough      S340551-01                 $2,775,000                                               $3,700,000

Manasquan River          S340911-03                 $495,000                                                     $660,000

  RSA

Vernon Township          S340745-03                 $2,271,750                                               $3,029,000

Delanco SA                   S340956-03                 $1,186,500                                               $1,582,000

Bergen County UA        S340386-25                 $3,000,000                                               $4,000,000

Monmouth County        S340325-04                 $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

  Bayshore Outfall

  Authority

Monmouth County        S340325-04a               $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

  Bayshore Outfall

  Authority

Camden County MUA   S340640-30                 $5,625,000                                               $7,500,000

Toms River MUA          S340145-07                 $6,750,000                                               $9,000,000

Toms River MUA          S340145-08                 $1,018,800                                               $1,358,400

Two Rivers Water          S340117-10                 $2,475,000                                               $3,300,000

  Reclamation

  Authority

Brick Township MUA   S340448-13                 $3,450,000                                               $4,600,000

Northwest Bergen          S340700-19                 $6,099,338                                               $8,132,450

  County UA

Franklin Township SA   S340839-09                 $5,700,000                                               $7,600,000

Parsippany Troy Hills    S340886-05                 $8,888,126                                              $11,850,835

  Township

Mount Laurel                 S340943-07                 $2,400,000                                               $3,200,000

  Township MUA

North Brunswick           S340888-03                 $2,475,000                                               $3,300,000

  Township

North Brunswick           S340888-04                 $1,912,500                                               $2,550,000

  Township

Winslow Township       S340895-10                 $1,287,750                                               $1,717,000

Scotch Plains                 S340512-01                 $2,025,000                                               $2,700,000

  Township

Hopewell Township      S340282-03                 $1,230,000                                               $1,640,000

Princeton                       S340656-11                 $2,944,259                                               $3,925,678

Mantua Township          S340514-01                 $2,007,375                                               $2,676,500

  MUA

Mantua Township          S340514-03                 $1,022,625                                               $1,363,500

  MUA

Middlesex Borough       S340698-03                 $900,000                                                  $1,200,000

Pennsville SA                S340870-04                 $1,200,000                                               $1,600,000

South Monmouth RSA   S340377-06                 $1,725,000                                               $2,300,000

North Haledon               S340229-01                 $1,875,000                                               $2,500,000

  Borough

North Haledon               S340229-02                 $75,000                                                       $100,000

  Borough

Haddon Heights             S340877-02                 $487,500                                                     $650,000

  Borough

Emerson Borough          S340497-01                 $75,000                                                       $100,000

Emerson Borough          S340497-02                 $525,000                                                     $700,000

Mount Arlington            S340451-05                 $412,500                                                     $550,000

  Borough

Highlands Borough       S340901-05                 $6,375,000                                               $8,500,000

Medford Lakes              S340319-03                 $8,250,000                                              $11,000,000

  Borough

Mendham Borough        S340159-03                 $2,775,000                                               $3,700,000

Hamburg Borough         S340149-03                 $75,000                                                       $100,000

Hamburg Borough         S340149-04                 $600,000                                                     $800,000

Long Beach Township   S340023-09                 $4,923,750                                               $6,565,000

Borough of Wenonah    S340531-01                 $997,500                                                  $1,330,000

Ship Bottom Borough    S340311-05                 $3,750,000                                               $5,000,000

Fieldsboro Borough       S340522-01                 $1,200,000                                               $1,600,000

Willingboro MUA         S340132-10                 $13,650,000                                            $18,200,000

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-45                 $7,657,577                                              $10,210,102

Passaic Valley SC          S340689-54                 $16,950,000                                            $22,600,000

Montville Township      S340931-04                 $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

Hackensack City           S340923-15                 $1,200,000                                               $1,600,000

Camden County MUA   S340640-26                 $21,150,000                                            $28,200,000

Lower Township           S340810-05                 $22,500,000                                            $30,000,000

  MUA

Little Egg Harbor          S340579-04                 $1,530,000                                               $2,040,000

  Township

Gloucester Township     S340364-11                 $712,500                                                     $950,000

Gloucester Township     S340364-15                 $1,087,500                                               $1,450,000

Northfield City              S340508-02                 $112,500                                                     $150,000

Jersey City MUA           S340928-32                 $9,225,000                                              $12,300,000

Atlantic City MUA        S340439-04                 $2,300,000                                               $3,066,667

East Orange City           S340843-03                 $12,825,000                                            $17,100,000

Cumberland County      S342015-04                 $4,439,778                                               $5,919,704

  Improvement

  Authority

Sussex County MUA     S342008-06                 $32,250,000                                            $43,000,000

Burlington City              S340140-02                 $1,950,000                                               $2,600,000

Bloomfield Township    S340516-01                 $5,423,228                                               $7,230,970

South Orange Village     S340103-02                 $2,002,500                                               $2,670,000

Brick Township MUA   S340448-14                 $1,500,000                                               $2,000,000

West Deptford               S340947-06                 $3,540,000                                               $4,720,000

  Township

Bordentown City           S340219-04                 $2,250,000                                               $3,000,000

Ship Bottom Borough    S340311-04                 $2,062,500                                               $2,750,000

Total Projects: 116                                          $913,836,380                                     $1,218,448,507

 

     b.    The following environmental infrastructure projects shall be known and may be cited as the "Storm Sandy and State Fiscal Year 2024 Drinking Water Project Eligibility List":

 

Project Sponsor            Project Number          Estimated Allowable                       Estimated Total

                                                                          Trust Loan Amount                           Loan Amount

Trenton City                  1111001-011               $15,255,000                                            $20,340,000

Passaic Valley Water     1605002-002               $54,000,000                                            $72,000,000

  Commission

Orange City                   0717001-011               $1,162,500                                               $1,550,000

Orange City                   0717001-013               $525,000                                                     $700,000

Newark City                  0714001-022               $17,250,000                                            $23,000,000

Bloomfield Township    0702001-003               $823,796                                                  $1,098,395

Trenton City                  1111001-005               $23,328,750                                            $31,105,000

Hopatcong Borough      1912001-002               $1,050,000                                               $1,400,000

Bloomfield Township    0702001-004               $3,000,000                                               $4,000,000

Bloomfield Township    0702001-005               $6,000,000                                               $8,000,000

National Park Borough  0812001-005               $1,350,000                                               $1,800,000

Brick Township MUA   1506001-011               $15,667,500                                            $20,890,000

East Orange City           0705001-014               $24,750,000                                            $33,000,000

High Bridge Borough    1014001-004               $1,500,000                                               $2,000,000

East Greenwich             0803001-004               $4,500,000                                               $6,000,000

Jersey City MUA           0906001-017               $1,305,180                                               $1,740,240

NJ American                 2004002-012               $15,000,000                                            $20,000,000

  Water Company,

  Incorporated

Hackettstown MUA       2108001-002               $757,500                                                  $1,010,000

Jersey City MUA           0906001-019               $5,025,000                                               $6,700,000

Wildwood City              0514001-006               $4,637,403                                               $6,183,204

Lower Township           0505002-004               $9,000,000                                              $12,000,000

  MUA

Seaside Park Borough   1527001-004               $1,125,000                                               $1,500,000

Brick Township MUA   1506001-014               $2,700,000                                               $3,600,000

Hawthorne Borough      1604001-002               $3,750,000                                               $5,000,000

Hightstown Borough     1104001-009               $712,500                                                     $950,000

Jersey City MUA           0906001-025               $26,250,000                                            $35,000,000

Willingboro MUA         0338001-010               $5,400,000                                               $7,200,000

Jersey City MUA           0906001-009               $3,750,000                                               $5,000,000

NJ American                 0712001-016               $21,210,000                                            $28,280,000

  Water Company,

  Incorporated

Old Bridge MUA           1209002-005               $2,025,000                                               $2,700,000

Clinton Town                1005001-010               $1,980,000                                               $2,640,000

Point Pleasant                1525001-002               $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

  Beach Borough

Jersey City MUA           0906001-020               $4,965,000                                               $6,620,000

Jersey City MUA           0906001-021               $8,250,000                                              $11,000,000

Allentown Borough       1302001-004               $1,746,720                                               $2,328,960

Jersey City MUA           0906001-015               $2,691,950                                               $3,589,266

Brick Township MUA   1506001-008               $4,912,500                                               $6,550,000

Ship Bottom Borough    1528001-004               $3,150,000                                               $4,200,000

East Windsor MUA       1101002-005               $1,500,000                                               $2,000,000

Clinton Town                1005001-012               $2,625,000                                               $3,500,000

Farmingdale Borough    1314001-002               $680,250                                                     $907,000

Clinton Town                1005001-013               $2,250,000                                               $3,000,000

Washington Township   1438004-001               $3,750,000                                               $5,000,000

  MUA

Winslow Township       0436007-010               $2,868,750                                               $3,825,000

Mount Arlington            1426005-001               $1,575,000                                               $2,100,000

  Borough

Willingboro MUA         0338001-005               $1,500,000                                               $2,000,000

Hopatcong Borough      1912001-004               $75,000                                                       $100,000

High Bridge Borough    1014001-001               $75,000                                                       $100,000

Total Projects: 48                                           $320,030,299                                        $426,707,065

 

     c.     The trust is authorized to adjust the allowable trust loan amount for projects authorized in this section to between zero percent and 100 percent of the total allowable loan amount, and, if the trust loan amount is adjusted to 100 percent of the total allowable loan amount, the loan shall be provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing program year in which the construction loan component of the project was certified by the department, and for which the trust issued an interim financing program loan for the project, or, in the absence of an interim financing program loan, the terms and conditions of the State fiscal year 2024 financing program.

 

     5.    In accordance with and subject to the provisions of sections 5, 6, and 23 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-5, C.58:11B-6, and C.58:11B-23), and as set forth in the financial plan required pursuant to section 21 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-21), or the financial plan required pursuant to section 25 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-21.1), any proceeds from bonds issued by the trust to make loans for priority environmental infrastructure projects listed in sections 2 and 4 of this act which are not expended for that purpose may be applied for the payment of all or any part of the principal of, or interest and premium on, the trust bonds whether due at stated maturity, the interest payment dates, or earlier upon redemption.  A portion of the proceeds from bonds issued by the trust to make loans for priority environmental infrastructure projects pursuant to this act may be applied for the payment of capitalized interest and for the payment of any issuance expenses; for the payment of reserve capacity expenses; for the payment of debt service reserve fund expenses for the payment of the loan origination fees; and for the payment of increased costs, as defined and determined in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27).

 

     6.    Any loan made by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank pursuant to this act shall be subject to the following requirements:

     a.     The chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary of the trust has certified that the project is in compliance with the provisions of P.L.1977, c.224, P.L.1985, c.334, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1997, c.223, P.L.1997, c.224, P.L.1997, c.225, P.L.1999, c.175 or P.L.2003, c.162, and any amendatory and supplementary acts thereto, and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, as applicable.  In making this certification, the chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary may conclusively rely on the project review conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection without any independent review thereof by the trust;

     b.    The loan shall be conditioned upon inclusion of the project on a project eligibility list approved pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20) or section 24 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1);

     c.     The loan shall be repaid within a period not to exceed 30 years, or 35 years for loans funded pursuant to the federal "Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014," 33 U.S.C. s.3901 et seq., as amended and supplemented, or 45 years for combined sewer overflow abatement projects, of the making of the loan;

     d.    The loan, including any portion thereof made by the trust pursuant to subsection f. of section 7 of this act, shall not exceed the allowable project cost of the environmental infrastructure facility, exclusive of capitalized interest, interest accrued pursuant to a short-term or temporary loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Interim Environmental Financing Program, administrative expenses associated with federal funding programs, if applicable, and issuance expenses as provided in subsection b. of section 7 of this act, reserve capacity expenses and the debt service reserve fund expenses as provided in subsection c. of section 7 of this act, interest earned on project costs as provided in subsection d. of section 7 of this act, the amounts of the loan origination fee as provided in subsection e. of section 7 of this act, refunding increases as provided in section 8 of this act and increased costs as defined and determined in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27);

     e.     The loan shall bear interest, exclusive of any late charges or administrative fees payable to the trust pursuant to subsection o. of section 5 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-5) by the project sponsors receiving trust loans, at or below the interest rate paid by the trust on the bonds issued to make or refund the loans authorized by this act, adjusted for underwriting discount and original issue discount or premium, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the financial plan required pursuant to section 21 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-21) or the financial plan required pursuant to section 25 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-21.1);

     f.     The loan shall be subject to all other terms and conditions as the trust shall determine to be consistent with the provisions of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and with the financial plan required by section 21 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-21) or the financial plan required pursuant to section 25 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-21.1);

     g.    Notwithstanding any provision of this act or a financial plan of the trust for State fiscal years 2018 through 2022 developed pursuant to section 21 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-21) or section 25 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-21.1) to the contrary, a loan for an environmental infrastructure project listed in section 2 or 3 of this act that is partially funded from the proceeds of bonds issued by the trust to the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the federal "Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014," 33 U.S.C. s.3901 et seq., shall be subject to terms and conditions regulating the blending of federal and other funds that are consistent with those provisions of Section III of the applicable financial plan of the trust for State fiscal year 2024 that reference the federal "Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014"; and

     h.    The eligibility lists and authorization for the making of loans pursuant to this act shall expire on July 1, 2024, and any project sponsor which has not executed and delivered a loan agreement with the trust for a loan authorized in this act shall no longer be entitled to that loan.

 

     7. a. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank is authorized to reduce the individual amount of loan funds made available to or on behalf of project sponsors pursuant to sections 2 and 4 of this act based upon final building costs defined in and determined in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27) or rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.329, section 11 of P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-11) or section 5 of P.L.1981, c.261.  The trust is authorized to use any such reduction in the loan amount made available to a project sponsor to cover that project sponsor's increased costs due to differing site conditions or other allowable expenses as defined and determined in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the trust pursuant to section 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-27).

     b.    The trust is authorized to increase each loan amount authorized in sections 2 and 4 of this act by the amount of capitalized interest, interest accrued pursuant to a short-term or temporary loan made to a project sponsor pursuant to the Interim Environmental Financing Program, issuance expenses, and administrative expenses associated with federal funding programs, if applicable, allocable to each loan made by the trust pursuant to this act.

     c.     The trust is authorized to increase each loan amount authorized in sections 2 and 4 of this act by the amount of reserve capacity expenses, and by the debt service reserve fund expenses associated with the costs identified in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection d. of section 1 of this act.

     d.    The trust is authorized to increase each loan amount authorized in sections 2 and 4 of this act by the interest earned on amounts deposited for project costs pending their distribution to project sponsors.

     e.     The trust is authorized to increase each loan amount authorized in sections 2 and 4 of this act by the loan origination fee.

     f.     The trust is authorized to increase each loan amount authorized in sections 2 and 4 of this act by the amount appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of making the corresponding zero interest loan pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2023, c.120 in connection with the project costs of the project sponsor, to the extent the priority ranking or an insufficiency of funding prevents the department from meeting program demand, and for lead abatement projects ineligible for department loans under the Federal Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

 

     8.    The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank is authorized to increase the individual amount of loan funds made available to project sponsors by the trust pursuant to P.L.1989, c.190, P.L.1990, c.97, P.L.1991, c.324, P.L.1992, c.37, P.L.1993, c.192, P.L.1994, c.105, P.L.1995, c.218, P.L.1996, c.87, P.L.1997, c.222, P.L.1998, c.85, P.L.1999, c.173, P.L.2000, c.93, P.L.2001, c.224, P.L.2002, c.71, P.L.2003, c.159, P.L.2004, c.110, P.L.2005, c.197, P.L.2006, c.67, P.L.2007, c.140, P.L.2008, c.67, P.L.2009, c.101, P.L.2010, c.62, P.L.2011, c.95, P.L.2012, c.38, P.L.2013, c.94, P.L.2014, c.26, P.L.2015, c.107, P.L.2016, c.31, as amended by P.L.2017, c.13, P.L.2017, c.142, as amended by P.L.2017, c.327, P.L.2018, c.84, as amended by P.L.2019, c.30, P.L.2019, c.192, as amended by P.L.2019, c.515, P.L.2020, c.48, as amended by P.L.2021, c.22, P.L.2021, c.204, as amended by P.L.2021, c.316, P.L.2022, c.100, as amended by P.L.2023, c.5, or P.L.2023, c.119, provided that adequate savings are achieved, to compensate for a refunding of trust bonds issued to make loans authorized by the aforementioned acts.

 

     9.    The expenditure of funds authorized pursuant to this act is subject to the provisions of P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et al.), P.L.1985, c.329, P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented by P.L.1997, c.224, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.181, P.L.1997, c.223, P.L.1997, c.225, P.L.1999, c.175, or P.L.2003, c.162, the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as appropriate.

 

     10. a. There is appropriated to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, as needed to make short-term or temporary loans, from funds deposited in any account, including the "Wastewater Treatment Fund," the "1992 Wastewater Treatment Fund," the "Water Supply Fund," the "2003 Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Trust Fund," the "Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Fund," the "Clean Water State Revolving Fund," the "Drinking Water State Revolving Fund," or the funds transferred to the trust by the department pursuant to paragraph (21) of subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2023, c.120, as appropriate, and from any net earnings received from the investment and reinvestment of such deposits, an amount of up to $1 billion, to the extent funds are available, consisting of:

     (1) The uncommitted balance currently on deposit as of July 1, 2023 in the special fund (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund") created and established by the trust for the short-term or temporary loan financing or refinancing program (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Environmental Financing Program") authorized pursuant to subsection d. of section 9 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-9), which balance previously had been appropriated to the trust for such purpose pursuant to section 11 of P.L.2019, c.192, less any Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund amounts appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection to supplement the sums appropriated from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for clean water projects pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act and from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for drinking water projects pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, provided that at no time shall funds committed pursuant to this section exceed funds required by the Department of Environmental Protection to meet long-term obligations; and

     (2) such other amounts to be deposited in the Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund, in an aggregate amount that does not exceed at any time the amount appropriated, provided that the amount so reappropriated and appropriated to the trust for deposit in the Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund shall be utilized by the trust to make short-term or temporary loans pursuant to the Interim Environmental Financing Program to any one or more of the project sponsors, for the respective projects thereof, identified in the interim environmental financing project priority list (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List") in the form provided to the Legislature by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

     b.    The Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly at least once each fiscal year.  The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly shall cause the date of submission to be entered upon the Senate Journal and the Minutes of the General Assembly, respectively.  Any environmental infrastructure project or the project sponsor thereof not identified in the Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List shall not be eligible for a short-term or temporary loan from the Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund.

     c.     The trust may issue market rate interest short-term temporary loans for wastewater treatment and water supply projects on the Interim Environmental Financing Program Project Priority List for the reduction of lead in publicly owned facilities otherwise ineligible to receive funding for that purpose pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

 

     11. a. There is appropriated to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for deposit in an environmental subaccount of the special fund created and established by the trust for the short-term or temporary Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program loan financing or refinancing program (hereinafter referred to as the "Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program") authorized pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2013, c.93 (C.58:11B-9.5) such sums as needed consisting of:

     (1) sums from the "Interim Environmental Financing Program Fund" as needed by the trust to make short-term or temporary loans pursuant to the Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program to any one or more of the project sponsors, for the respective projects thereof; and

     (2) such other amounts to be deposited in the Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Fund, provided that the amount so appropriated to the trust for deposit in the Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Fund shall be utilized by the trust to make short-term or temporary loans pursuant to the Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program to any one or more of the project sponsors, for the respective projects thereof.  Any environmental projects funded by the Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program shall be subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

     b.    The Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Project Priority List shall be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) at least once in each fiscal year.  Any environmental infrastructure project or the project sponsor thereof not identified in the Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Project Priority List shall not be eligible for a short-term or temporary loan from the Environmental Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program Fund.

 

     12.  There is appropriated to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank such funds as are available from the "Economic Development and Infrastructure Improvement Revolving Fund" created pursuant to the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2021, P.L.2020, c.97, to provide a debt service reserve or guarantee to a local government unit that meets the department's affordability criteria in order to satisfy creditworthiness requirements of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program to finance an environmental infrastructure component of a redevelopment project.

 

     13.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of section 23 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-23) or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the funds generated by the operation of the trust, including, but not limited to: proceeds from the sale of the trust's bonds, notes, or other obligations; revenues derived from investments by the trust; loan repayments, including interest from local government units; any funds received from the federal government permitted to be used for operating expenses; fees and charges levied by the trust; or any other sources of funds permitted to be used for operating expenses may be utilized by the trust for its annual operating expenses.

 

     14.  Notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the trust shall not be required to adopt rules and regulations governing the making of Disaster Relief Emergency Financing Program loans.

 

     15.  This act shall take effect immediately.

     Approved July 20, 2023.