Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires federal funding to be made available to Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to support Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse if needed to offset unanticipated decrease in dedicated revenues.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning funding for the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to support the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. During State fiscal years 2022 and 2023, if insufficient monies are available from the “Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund,” established pursuant to N.J.S.2C:35-15, and the amounts dedicated pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1993, c.216 (C.54:43-1.3) for the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to support the activities of the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, as set forth in section 7 of P.L.1989, c.51 (C.26:2BB-7), then to the extent permitted by federal law and subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Governor shall make available such federal funding as is necessary to the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, from the monies allocated to the State under the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” Pub.L.116-136, the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to support the activities of the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on June 30, 2023.
STATEMENT
This bill requires federal funding to be made available to the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (“GCADA”) to support the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (“alliance”) if such monies are needed to offset unanticipated decreases in dedicated State revenues during fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Under current law, the GCADA administers the alliance, which is a network of community-based coalitions that are dedicated to fighting alcoholism and drug abuse. Through the alliance, the GCADA awards grants to participating municipalities and counties to help develop: (1) coordinated efforts involving schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to reduce alcoholism and drug abuse; (2) comprehensive drug abuse education programs for students and parents; (3) procedures for the intervention and treatment of students who abuse alcohol or drugs; and (4) comprehensive alcoholism and drug abuse community awareness programs.
The State currently dedicates monies from the “Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund” to support the activities of the alliance. The monies deposited into this fund are collected as surcharges from persons convicted of any crime or offense in this State. The State also requires all monies collected under the “Alcoholic beverage tax law,” R.S.54:41-1 et seq., from the holders of a restricted brewery license to be dedicated to the GCADA for the support of the alliance.
During fiscal years 2022 and 2023, this bill provides that if these dedicated revenues are insufficient to support activities of the alliance, then to the extent permitted by federal law and subject to appropriation by the Legislature, the Governor would be required to make available such federal funding as is necessary to the GCADA, from the monies allocated to the State under the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” Pub.L.116-136, the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to support the alliance.