Bill Text: NJ A4441 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Extends eligibility for certain SDA grant funding to Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A4441 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4441-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Extends eligibility for certain SDA grant funding to Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning school facilities projects at the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf and amending P.L.2000, c.72.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 15 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-15) is amended to read as follows:
15. a. In the case of a district other than an SDA district, for any project approved by the commissioner after the effective date of this act, the district may elect to receive a one-time grant for the State share of the project in accordance with the provisions of subsection b. of this section rather than annual debt service aid under section 9 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-9). The State share payable to the district shall equal the product of the project's final eligible costs and the district aid percentage or 40%, whichever is greater. The Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf shall be eligible to receive a one-time grant in accordance with the provisions of subsection b. of this section.
b. The commissioner shall establish a process for the annual allocation of grant funding. Under that process, the commissioner shall annually notify districts of the date on which the commissioner shall begin to receive applications for grant funding. A district shall have 90 days from that date to submit an application to the commissioner. The commissioner shall make a decision on a district's application within 90 days of the submission of all such applications and shall allocate the grant funding in accordance with the priority process established pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection m. of section 5 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-5).
c. The development authority shall provide grant funding for the State's share of the final eligible costs of a school facilities project pursuant to an agreement between the district and the development authority which shall, in addition to other terms and conditions, set forth the terms of disbursement of the State share. The funding of the State share shall not commence until the district secures financing for the local share.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.39, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill extends eligibility for certain grant funding from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.
The SDA provides grant funding to non-SDA districts, also known as "regular operating school districts." These grants, referred to as "section 15 grants," are provided to address health and safety issues and other critical needs. Under this bill, the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf would be eligible to apply for a one-time section 15 grant.
