ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3044

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2023

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3044 (1R).

      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 reported, Senate Bill No. 3044 (1R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4716 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.