STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Increases FY2025 Grants-in-Aid appropriation to DCA for "NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program" by $5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 and regulating the disbursement thereof,” approved June 28, 2024, P.L.2024, c.22.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The following item in section 1 of P.L.2024, c.22, the annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2025 is amended to read as follows:
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22 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security 55 Social Services Programs
Grants-in-Aid |
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05-8050 Community Resources ...................................................... |
[$5,500,000] $10,500,000 |
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Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, |
[$5,500,000] $10,500,000 |
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Social Services Programs .................. |
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Grants-in-Aid: |
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[($5,500,000)] ($10,500,000) |
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Of the amount hereinabove appropriated for the NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program, an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 shall be appropriated from the Universal Service Fund for utility payment assistance and shall be awarded by the Commissioner of Community Affairs to homeowners and tenants of residential property throughout the State suffering financial difficulties. The commissioner shall design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with this act which the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner to enable eligible homeowners and tenants to comply with their utilities obligations. The commissioner may implement this program through the award of contracts, or through the delegation of its authority to award grants, to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or both. To be eligible for a grant under this program, a homeowner or tenant shall not be eligible for, or a recipient of funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity which may be considered a duplication or benefits.
2. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends the FY 2025 Appropriations Act to increase the Grants-in-Aid appropriation to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program by $5 million, from $5.5 million to $10.5 million, to fund utility assistance for homeowners and tenants of residential property throughout the State suffering financial difficulties.
The bill directs the commissioner to design and establish program criteria and guidelines consistent with the bill in order to award grants to eligible homeowners and tenants in an expeditious manner to enable them to comply with their utilities obligations. To be eligible for a grant under this program a homeowner or tenant may not be eligible for, or a recipient of funding from, private insurance or from any other available funding opportunity.
The bill authorizes the commissioner to implement this program through the award of contracts, or through the delegation of its authority to award grants, to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or both.