ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3044

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  June 15, 2023

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3044.

      As amended and reported, this bill appropriates $15 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the Clean Energy Fund to support the Electric School Bus Program.

      In August 2022, the State established the “Electric School Bus Program” (program), which required the DEP to develop and implement a program under which the DEP will award grants to certain school districts and school bus contractors for the purchase or lease of electric school buses and electric school bus charging infrastructure.  Subject to the availability of funds, the law requires the DEP to provide $15 million in grants during each year of the three-year program.

      Accordingly, this bill appropriates $15 million to the DEP to support the first year of operations of the program, including the use of some of these monies to support administrative costs associated with the program.

      As amended and reported, Senate Bill No. 3044 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4716, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments change the source of funding from the General Fund to the Clean Energy Fund.