Sponsored by:
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Greenstein and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Appropriates up to $20 million from societal benefits charge to DEP for remediation of lead contamination in drinking water in public buildings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning remediation of lead contamination in drinking water in public buildings, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60), and any other law to the contrary, there is appropriated the sum of up to $20,000,000 from the societal benefits charge collected pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) to the Department of Environmental Protection to pay the costs of remediation of elevated lead levels found in drinking water in public buildings. Funds shall be disbursed to public entities at the discretion and prioritization of the Department of Environmental Protection in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Treasury, upon receipt of appropriate documentation and receipts for the cost of the lead abatement.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill would appropriate up to $20 million from the societal benefits charge (commonly referred to as the “Clean Energy Fund”) to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to pay the costs of remediation of elevated lead levels found in drinking water in public buildings. Funds would be disbursed to public entities at the discretion and prioritization of the DEP in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Treasury, upon receipt of appropriate documentation and receipts for the cost of the lead abatement.
Lead in drinking water comes from lead soldering, lead pipes, and leaded brass faucets. Too much lead in the human body can damage the nervous system, brain, and kidneys.