Bill Text: NJ A276 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes pilot program to provide zero-interest loans to certain emergency shelters and food banks for purchase and installation of generator.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-11 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A276 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A276-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DONNA M. SIMON
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman JACK M. CIATTARELLI
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Quijano
SYNOPSIS
Establishes pilot program to provide zero-interest loans to certain emergency shelters and food banks for purchase and installation of generator.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act establishing a pilot program within the Office of Emergency Management to provide zero-interest loans to certain emergency shelters and food banks.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. For the purposes of this section:
"Alternative power generation device" means a device capable of providing electrical power during a power outage including, but not limited to, portable generators, standby generators, emergency generators, or other power generation devices.
"Emergency shelter" means any shelter that is designated as an emergency shelter in a county Emergency Operations Plan pursuant to the provisions of App.A:9-43.2.
"Food bank" means a nonprofit food clearinghouse that solicits, stores, and distributes donations of edible, but unmarketable surplus food. The food is distributed to nonprofit organizations that feed the needy.
2. a. There is established a two-year pilot program in the State Office of Emergency Management. The purpose of the program shall be to provide zero-interest loans to emergency shelters and food banks for the purchase and installation of alternative power generation devices.
b. The Office of Emergency Management shall develop specifications concerning the installation, use, and safety of alternative power generation devices purchased by emergency shelters or food banks.
c. In implementing the pilot program, the office shall establish and administer a program to provide zero-interest loans to emergency shelters and food banks for the cost of purchasing and installing an alternative power generation device for use during a declared state of emergency resulting in a power outage. The loans issued under this program shall bear zero interest and shall be for a term of not more than 10 years. The maximum amount for any single loan shall be $25,000. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2004, c.48 (C.52:17C-19), the source of funding for the loans shall be from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account."
d. The Director of the State Office of Emergency Management in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) may adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.
3. At the conclusion of the two year pilot program, the Director of the Office of Emergency Management shall submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall include information on the effectiveness of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the number of emergency shelters and food banks that are participating in the program, the loan amount granted for each individual project, and a recommendation on whether the program should be continued.
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment, but the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a pilot program to provide zero-interest loans to certain emergency shelters and food banks for the purchase and installation of generators.
Specifically, under the provisions of this bill, the Office of Emergency Management would establish and administer a two year pilot program to provide zero-interest loans to emergency shelters, and food banks for the purchase and installation of a generator for use during a declared state of emergency resulting in a power outage.
The bill defines an "emergency shelter" as any shelter that is designated as an emergency shelter in a county Emergency Operations Plan. In addition, the bill defines a "food bank" as a non profit food clearinghouse that solicits, stores, and distributes donations of edible but unmarketable surplus food. The food is distributed to nonprofit organizations that feed the needy.
The bill also establishes that the loans issued under the program are to bear zero interest and have a term that does not exceed 10 years. The bill limits the maximum amount for any single loan to $25,000.
