SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1564  

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 21, 2023

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1564.

      This bill expands the purpose of the pilot program established to award grants to qualified organizations to rehabilitate the primary residence of eligible veterans to include the purchase and rehabilitation of abandoned homes for homeless veterans.

      Under the bill, a nonprofit veterans' organization that has experience in rehabilitating housing for homeless veterans, or others, is to be eligible to receive a grant to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes for homeless veterans.  The bill affords a preference in awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that serve communities that are in the greatest need of homeless services.  The bill allows the administrator of the current pilot program to give preferences in awarding grants in order to achieve a fair distribution among homeless veterans in different geographical regions of the State.

      Finally, this bill adjusts the existing law, through defining “rehabilitation” and other language changes, to clarify that pilot program funds may be expended for a broad range of project types, including repairs, renovations, reconstruction, as well as the installation of appropriate new fixtures and other alterations.

      As reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 1564 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3142, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.