Bill Text: NJ A4161 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizes local units to temporarily make special emergency appropriations for COVID-19 response and recovery.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A4161 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4161-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4161

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Authorizes local units to temporarily make special emergency appropriations for COVID-19 response and recovery.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act authorizing local units to temporarily make special emergency appropriations for COVID-19 response and recovery.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  In a fiscal year in which a public health emergency, pursuant to the "Emergency Health Powers Act," P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), or state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A.9-33 et seq.), declared by the Governor in response to COVID-19 is in effect, a local unit may adopt an ordinance authorizing special emergency appropriations for expenses incurred by the local unit in its response and recovery that are directly attributable to the COVID-19 emergency.

     b.    A special emergency appropriation made pursuant to this section may be funded pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.40A:4-55.

     c.     A copy of all ordinances or resolutions as adopted relating to special emergency appropriations issued pursuant to this section shall be filed with the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs.

     d.    As used in this section:

     "COVID-19" means the coronavirus disease 2019, as announced by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, and first identified in Wuhan, China.

     "Local unit" means a county or municipality.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would authorize a municipality or county to make special emergency appropriations to support its response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 emergency.  This authority would be available in any fiscal year in which a declared emergency in response to COVID-19 is in effect.  The bill also authorizes municipalities and counties to issue five-year special emergency notes to fund these special emergency appropriations under current law.  This bill would provide municipalities and counties with added financial flexibility to effectively respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 crisis.

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