SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3610

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 18, 2026

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3610.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill diversifies how the “New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program” (NJNSGP) coordinated by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) is used.  This program currently supports certain nonprofits by providing grants for both security personnel and target hardening equipment.  This amended bill diversifies the program to include security-related training and planning and intelligence gathering and analysis and increases the recommended funding for all grants.  The amended bill also permits applicants to qualify for all categories of grants in a funding cycle.

      Currently, the NJNSGP provides grants from annually appropriated funds to eligible nonprofit organizations to: (1) hire certain permanent or temporary security personnel, up to $10,000; and (2) acquire target hardening equipment, up to $50,000. The amended bill increases the maximum grant from $10,000 to $50,000 per approved application for personnel or security-related training or planning, and from $50,000 to $150,000 for target-hardening equipment or intelligence gathering and analysis.

      The amended bill also requires the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to annually request, as part of its annual budget proposal, a minimum of $10 million to fund authorized grants. Currently, the office is required to request $2 million.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to make certain clarifying and technical changes.