Bill Text: NJ A1599 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: The "Emergency Disaster Relief Act of 2013"; appropriates $100 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [A1599 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A1599-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
The "Emergency Disaster Relief Act of 2013"; appropriates $100 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning hurricane and flood relief, and making various appropriations.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the "Emergency Disaster Relief Act of 2013."
2. a. The Legislature finds and declares that:
(1) In late October, 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the State of New Jersey, causing great destruction to the people and property of the State;
(2) The damage caused by the high winds, waves, storm surge, flooding and fires associated with Hurricane Sandy has devastated entire communities across the State and resulted in billions of dollars worth of damage to the State's infrastructure, both public and private and the State's beaches, bays, parks, forests, and other natural resources;
(3) On October 30, 2012, the President of the United States issued a major disaster declaration for New Jersey and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide financial assistance to property owners whose primary residences were damaged or destroyed, to business owners and to local government entities to help pay for emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged structures and facilities; and
(4) Additional aid beyond this assistance is necessary due to the magnitude and severity of the damage resulting from Hurricane Sandy.
b. The Legislature determines that it is in the public interest of the State to provide additional pubic assistance to individuals, businesses, and local governments recovering from the damaging effects of Hurricane Sandy to ensure that the affected communities rebuild, the tourism industry thrives again, and the needs of all the citizens of the State are met in the face of this disaster.
3. a. There is established in the Office of the Chief Executive the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account." The Governor shall adopt criteria for the administration of the dedicated account and the disbursement of monies therefrom, which criteria shall provide that:
(1) Monies from the dedicated account may be used for any damage or loss which is not met by any other source;
(2) Preference for the disbursement of monies from the dedicated account pursuant to this section shall be given to persons residing and businesses located in the counties declared as federal disaster areas by the President of the United States; and
(3) Financial need, the magnitude of the damage or loss, or any other mitigating circumstances may be considered in the award of any grants or loans issued pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
b. The amount appropriated to the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account" pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act may be used for, but need not be limited to, the following:
(1) grants, zero-interest loans, low-interest loans or other forms of financial assistance to owners of residential property used as a primary residence and to owners of businesses for damage or loss to real property incurred as a result of Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding;
(2) grants, zero-interest loans, low-interest loans or other forms of financial assistance to businesses for damage or loss to personal property and inventory incurred as a result of Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding;
(3) grants to individuals for the personal contents of primary residences damaged or lost as a result of Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding;
(4) grants to recognized non‑profit associations or organizations that are providing disaster relief or emergency assistance to persons who suffered damage or loss as a result of Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding; and
(5) any other storm relief or flood relief purpose as determined by the Governor, which purposes may include, but are not limited to, providing relief to individuals, businesses, entities, local government entities, or governmental agencies for those losses, damages and situations not covered by existing aid programs, and providing zero-interest loans, low-interest loans, or payments to local government units for the authorized deferral of property taxes.
The financial terms and conditions of any grants or loans issued pursuant to this subsection shall be established in consultation with the Department of the Treasury.
c. The Governor may direct and disburse monies to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B‑4), and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1983, c.530 (C.55:14K‑4), or any other State department or political subdivision of the State, as appropriate, to develop programs and assist in the disbursement of monies from the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account."
d. Within 30 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Governor shall publicize the availability of the grants and loans authorized pursuant to this act and establish any administrative processes necessary for the disbursement of the monies in the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account."
4. The Department of Community Affairs shall provide financial aid to local government units for costs incurred in responding to and recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding, provided, however, that no monies appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of section 5 of this act shall be used to provide financial aid to a local government unit for any damage or loss met by any other source.
The Commissioner of Community Affairs may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B‑1 et seq.), rules and regulations, as appropriate, to effectuate the purposes of this section; except that, notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 to the contrary, the commissioner may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, such rules and regulations deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this section, which rules and regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed six months and may thereafter be amended, adopted or readopted in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410.
5. a. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account" established in the Office of the Chief Executive pursuant to section 3 of this act the sum of $80,000,000.
b. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs the sum of $10,000,000 for the purposes set forth in section 4 of this act.
c. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of the Treasury up to $10,000,000 for the purpose of reimbursing State agencies for costs incurred in providing assistance pursuant to this act.
6. Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Governor shall submit a written report to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), detailing the disbursement of monies authorized pursuant to this act and making a recommendation to the Legislature on whether there is a need to provide additional assistance beyond that provided by this act.
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill, the "Emergency Disaster Relief Act of 2013," would establish the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account" in the Office of the Chief Executive and appropriate from the General Fund to that account $80 million that may be used to provide assistance to individuals and businesses that sustained property damage or loss as a result of Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding. The bill would also appropriate $10 million to the Department of Community Affairs and $10 million to the Department of the Treasury.
Monies in the "2013 Hurricane and Flood Relief Dedicated Account" may also be used for any other storm relief or flood relief purpose as determined by the Governor, which purposes may include providing relief to individuals, businesses, entities or governmental agencies for those losses, damages and situations not covered by existing aid programs, and providing zero-interest loans, low-interest loans, or payments to local government units for the authorized deferral of property taxes. Criteria for the disbursement of monies from the account would be established by the Governor. Such monies could be used only to cover damage or losses not already covered by any other source, and preference in their disbursement would be given to residents and businesses in counties declared by the President as federal disaster areas.
In addition, the bill appropriates $10 million to the Department of Community Affairs to provide financial aid to local government units for costs incurred in responding to and recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and its associated flooding, and $10 million to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of reimbursing State agencies for costs incurred in providing assistance pursuant to this act.
