Bill Text: NJ A873 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas; stipulates uses of, and eligibility criteria for, funds.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A873 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A873-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Spearman and Atkins
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 billion for After School Recreation in Urban Areas; stipulates uses of, and eligibility criteria for, funds.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, P.L.2021, c.133.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2021, c.133, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
|
34 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 30 Educational, Cultural, and Intellectual Development 34 Educational Support Services GRANTS-IN-AID |
||||
|
40-5064 |
Student Services .............................. |
$1,000,000,000 |
||
|
|
Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, Educational Support Services |
$1,000,000,000 |
||
|
Grant-in-Aid: |
|
|
||
|
40 |
Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas.......................................... |
($1,000,000,000) |
|
|
The amount hereinabove appropriated for Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas shall only be made available to municipalities that are members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association. Funds shall be allocated by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to an application process to be established by the commissioner for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs, public and nonprofit youth sports organizations and recreational programs, organized after school and summer educational programs that shall include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides a supplemental appropriation of $1 billion to provide Grants for After School Recreation in Urban Areas.
The bill provides that the grants will be allocated by the Commissioner of Education for the following purposes: improving, retrofitting, and rebuilding playgrounds, public swimming pools, and other recreational infrastructure; reopening parks that have not been in operation for a long period of time; and establishing, enhancing, and procuring equipment and other materials for mentorship programs, public and nonprofit youth sports organizations and recreational programs, organized after school and summer educational programs that include computer science education, home economics education, and education concerning other life-building skills.
Under the bill, grants would only be made available to municipalities that are members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA). The NJUMA is an association comprised of urban and rural municipalities that is dedicated to working with State and federal lawmakers and officials to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the State's urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey's cities and municipalities. Member municipalities of the NJUMA display a disproportionate need for youth sports and educational programs. This bill would provide these municipalities, and the youth populations of the municipalities, with access to funding to improve, create, and support youth programs and facilities. Ensuring funding for the purposes described under the bill would represent a meaningful investment in the educational and social-emotional development of children in the eligible municipalities and provide them with stimulating after school and summer safe havens.
