SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3978

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 27, 2023

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3978.

      This bill supplements the FY 2023 Appropriations Act with an additional $158,525,000 in spending authority, of which $75,084,000 is from the General Fund and $83,441,000 is from the Property Tax Relief Fund.  The bill also adds and modifies certain language provisions of the FY 2023 Appropriations Act.

      This bill appropriates $16,800,000 in Direct State Services funding for Materials and Supplies due to increased costs related to food for incarcerated persons, facility supplies, and fuel and utility costs.

      This bill appropriates $83,222,000 in State Aid from the Property Tax Relief Fund to bring New Jersey in compliance with the maintenance of equity requirements set forth in the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

      This bill appropriates $12,821,000 in Capital Construction funding for hazardous substance discharge and private underground storage tank remediation as dedicated by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.

      This bill appropriates $3,771,000 in Direct State Services funding for water resources monitoring and planning as dedicated by Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.

      This bill appropriates $382,000 in Grants-in-Aid funding from the General Fund for the Lake Hopatcong Commission to support the anticipated loss of revenue collections for boating licenses that were associated with the temporary waiver of driver’s license fees. 

      This bill appropriates $1,310,000 in State Aid funding from the General Fund due to increased administrative costs in the Supplemental Security Income Program.

      This bill appropriates $40,000,000 in Grants-in-Aid funding from the General Fund for the Green Fund, which shifts the appropriation from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2023. 

      This bill appropriates $219,000 in State Aid funding from the Property Tax Relief Fund for the South Jersey Port Corporation to make additional PILOT payments to Paulsboro per an agreement between the Borough of Paulsboro and the South Jersey Port Corporation.

      The bill also adds new language to allow certain funds to be used for a current program which provides grants to licensed child care providers for the purpose of making improvements to their child care facilities, in accordance with an application process and eligibility requirements determined by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

      Finally, the bill modifies existing language in the FY 2023 Appropriations Act to increase the amount available from the Health Care Subsidy Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) to fund Medical Coverage – Title XIX Parents and Children in the General Medical Services program classification.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.