S3932

An Act establishing a Private Institution of Higher Education Security Grant Program, supplementing Appendix A, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

“Director” means the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

“Private institution of higher education” means an independent or private institution of higher education in the State that is licensed by the Secretary of Higher Education and accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting association. Private institutions shall also include certain proprietary institutions but only for certain degree granting programs as approved by the secretary.

“Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education.

2. a. There is established the “Private Institution of Higher Education Security Grant Program” in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness for the purpose of providing grants to eligible private institutions of higher education that the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including, but not limited to, acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, harassment, and cyber security incidents.

b. Grants provided under the program shall be used by the grant recipient for purposes including, but not limited to:

(1) hiring permanent or temporary security personnel or contracting for private security personnel;

(2) acquiring equipment for the purpose of preparedness against threats, attacks, and other violent acts; or

(3) installing cameras, access controls, alarms, lighting, and other related equipment and infrastructure.

c. The director, in consultation with the secretary, shall administer the Private Institution of Higher Education Security Grant Program. Subject to availability of funds, there shall annually be distributed grants to approved private institutions of higher education. The director may adjust the grant amounts based upon the final availability of funds, analytical trends, and emerging threats.

d. A private institution of higher education shall apply to receive a grant under the program on a form and in a manner prescribed by the director. The application shall include a description of the purposes for which a grant awarded under the program would be used.

e. In evaluating applications for grants under the program, the office shall first evaluate whether the applicant private institution of higher education is at high risk of terrorist attacks, threats, domestic extremism, cyber security incidents, and other violent attacks. In awarding grants under the program, the director shall give preference to applicants that have not received a federal or State security grant in the previous two academic years.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness the sum of $5,000,000 to effectuate the purposes of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the Private Institution of Higher Education Security Grant Program in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

The purpose of the program is to provide funding to private institutions of higher education that the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness determines are at a high risk of being the target of unlawful activity, including, but not limited to, acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, harassment, and cyber security incidents. Private institutions of higher education are defined under the bill as independent or private institutions of higher education in the State that are licensed by the Secretary of Higher Education and accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized accrediting association. Private institutions also include certain proprietary institutions but only for certain degree granting programs as approved by the secretary.

Grants under the program may be used for purposes such as: (1) hiring permanent or temporary security personnel or contracting for private security personnel; (2) acquiring equipment for the purpose of preparedness against threats, attacks, and other violent acts; or (3) installing cameras, access controls, alarms, lighting, and related infrastructure.

A private institution of higher education would apply for a grant in a manner and form to be determined by the director. The application is required to include a description of the purposes for which a grant awarded under the program would be used. In evaluating applications, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness is required to first evaluate whether an applicant institution is at high risk of terrorist attacks, threats, domestic extremism, cyber security incidents, and other violent attacks. In selecting grant recipients, the director is to give preference to applicants that have not received a federal or State security grant in the previous two academic years.

The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to the program.