Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program.

A1710

ASSEMBLY, No. 1710

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex and Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman McCoy, Assemblymen Simonsen and Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes New Jersey Veterans' Organization
Building Grant Program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
establishing the New Jersey Veterans� Organization
Building Grant Program, amending and supplementing various parts of the
statutory law, and making an appropriation.

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

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.1974,
c.80 (C.34:1B-3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� As used in the
provisions of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), P.L.1979, c.303 (C.34:1B-5.1
et seq.), sections 50 through 54 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.34:1B-5.5 through
34:1B-5.9), P.L.1981, c.505 (C.34:1B-7.1 et seq.), P.L.1986, c.127 (C.34:1B-7.7
et seq.), P.L.1992, c.16 (C.34:1B-7.10 et al.), section 6 of P.L.2001, c.401
(C.34:1B-4.1),
[
and
]
P.L.2007,
c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.),
and section 3 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.��� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill),
unless a different meaning
clearly appears from the context:

���� "Authority" means
the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, created by section 4 of
P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).

���� "Bonds" means bonds
or other obligations issued by the authority pursuant to P.L.1974, c.80
(C.34:1B-1 et seq.), "Economic Recovery Bonds or Notes" issued
pursuant to P.L.1992, c.16 (C.34:1B-7.10 et al.), or bonds, notes, other obligations
and refunding bonds issued by the authority pursuant to P.L.2000, c.72
(C.18A:7G-1 et al.) and P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.).

���� "Cost" means the
cost of the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration,
improvement and extension of any building, structure, facility including water
transmission facilities, or other improvement; the cost of machinery and equipment;
the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration,
improvement and extension of energy saving improvements or pollution control
devices, equipment or facilities; the cost of lands, rights-in-lands,
easements, privileges, agreements, franchises, utility extensions, disposal
facilities, access roads and site development deemed by the authority to be
necessary or useful and convenient for any project or school facilities project
or in connection therewith; discount on bonds; cost of issuance of bonds;
engineering and inspection costs; costs of financial, legal, professional and
other estimates and advice; organization, administrative, insurance, operating
and other expenses of the authority or any person prior to and during any acquisition
or construction, and all such expenses as may be necessary or incident to the
financing, acquisition, construction or completion of any project or school
facilities project or part thereof, and also such provision for reserves for
payment or security of principal of or interest on bonds during or after such
acquisition or construction as the authority may determine.

���� "County" means any
county of any class.

���� "County solid waste
facility" means a solid waste facility that is designated by a public
authority or county in its adopted district solid waste management plan as
approved by the department prior to November 10, 1997 as the in-county facility
to which solid waste generated within the boundaries of the county is
transported for final disposal, or transfer for transportation to an offsite
solid waste facility or designated out-of-district disposal site for disposal,
as appropriate, pursuant to interdistrict or intradistrict waste flow orders
issued by the department, regardless of whether the county solid waste facility
was acquired, constructed, operated, abandoned or canceled.

���� "Department" means
the Department of Environmental Protection.

���� "Development
property" means any real or personal property, interest therein,
improvements thereon, appurtenances thereto and air or other rights in
connection therewith, including land, buildings, plants, structures, systems,
works, machinery and equipment acquired or to be acquired by purchase, gift or
otherwise by the authority within an urban growth zone.

���� "Person" means any
person, including individuals, firms, partnerships, associations, societies,
trusts, public or private corporations, or other legal entities, including
public or governmental bodies, as well as natural persons. "Person"
shall include the plural as well as the singular.

���� "Pollution control
project" means any device, equipment, improvement, structure or facility,
or any land and any building, structure, facility or other improvement thereon,
or any combination thereof, whether or not in existence or under construction,
or the refinancing thereof in order to facilitate improvements or additions
thereto or upgrading thereof, and all real and personal property deemed
necessary thereto, having to do with or the end purpose of which is the
control, abatement or prevention of land, sewer, water, air, noise or general
environmental pollution, including, but not limited to, any air pollution
control facility, noise abatement facility, water management facility, thermal
pollution control facility, radiation contamination control facility,
wastewater collection system, wastewater treatment works, sewage treatment
works system, sewage treatment system or solid waste facility or site; provided
that the authority shall have received from the Commissioner of the State
Department of Environmental Protection or the commissioner's duly authorized
representative a certificate stating the opinion that, based upon information,
facts and circumstances available to the State Department of Environmental
Protection and any other pertinent data, (1) the pollution control facilities
do not conflict with, overlap or duplicate any other planned or existing
pollution control facilities undertaken or planned by another public agency or
authority within any political subdivision, and (2) the facilities, as designed,
will be a pollution control project as defined in the provisions of P.L.1974,
c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.) and are in furtherance of the purpose of abating or
controlling pollution.

���� "Project" means: (1)
(a) acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, improvement
and extension of any building, structure, facility, including water
transmission facilities or other improvement, whether or not in existence or
under construction, (b) purchase and installation of equipment and machinery,
(c) acquisition and improvement of real estate and the extension or provision
of utilities, access roads and other appurtenant facilities; and (2) (a) the
acquisition, financing, or refinancing of inventory, raw materials, supplies,
work in process, or stock in trade, or (b) the financing, refinancing or
consolidation of secured or unsecured debt, borrowings, or obligations, or (c)
the provision of financing for any other expense incurred in the ordinary
course of business; all of which are to be used or occupied by any person in
any enterprise promoting employment, either for the manufacturing, processing
or assembly of materials or products, or for research or office purposes,
including, but not limited to, medical and other professional facilities, or
for industrial, recreational, hotel or motel facilities, public utility and
warehousing, or for commercial and service purposes, including, but not limited
to, retail outlets, retail shopping centers, restaurant and retail food
outlets, and any and all other employment promoting enterprises, including, but
not limited to, motion picture and television studios and facilities and
commercial fishing facilities, commercial facilities for recreational
fishermen, fishing vessels, aquaculture facilities and marketing facilities for
fish and fish products and (d) acquisition of an equity interest in, including
capital stock of, any corporation; or any combination of the above, which the
authority determines will: (i) tend to maintain or provide gainful employment
opportunities within and for the people of the State, or (ii) aid, assist and
encourage the economic development or redevelopment of any political
subdivision of the State, or (iii) maintain or increase the tax base of the
State or of any political subdivision of the State, or (iv) maintain or
diversify and expand employment promoting enterprises within the State; and (3)
the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration,
improvement and extension of an energy saving improvement or pollution control
project which the authority determines will tend to reduce the consumption in a
building devoted to industrial or commercial purposes, or in an office
building, of nonrenewable sources of energy or to reduce, abate or prevent
environmental pollution within the State; and (4) the acquisition,
construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, improvement, extension,
development, financing or refinancing of infrastructure, including parking
facilities or structures, and transportation facilities or improvements related
to economic development and of cultural, recreational and tourism facilities or
improvements related to economic development and of capital facilities for
primary and secondary schools and of mixed use projects consisting of housing
and commercial development; and (5) the establishment, acquisition,
construction, rehabilitation, improvement, and ownership of port facilities as
defined in section 3 of P.L.1997, c.150 (C.34:1B-146).� Project may also
include:� (i) reimbursement to any person for costs in connection with any
project, or the refinancing of any project or portion thereof, if determined by
the authority as necessary and in the public interest to maintain employment
and the tax base of any political subdivision and will facilitate improvements
thereto or the completion thereof, and (ii) development property and any
construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration, equipment or maintenance
or repair, or planning and designing in connection therewith. For the purpose
of carrying out mixed use projects consisting of both housing and commercial
development, the authority may enter into agreements with the New Jersey
Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency for loan guarantees for any such project in
accordance with the provisions of P.L.1995, c.359 (C.55:14K-64 et al.), and for
that purpose shall allocate to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance
Agency, under such agreements, funding available pursuant to subsection a. of
section 4 of P.L.1992, c.16 (C.34:1B-7.13).� Project shall not include a school
facilities project.

���� "Public authority"
means a municipal or county utilities authority created pursuant to the
"municipal and county utilities authorities law," P.L.1957, c.183
(C.40:14B-1 et seq.); a county improvement authority created pursuant to the "county
improvement authorities law," P.L.1960, c.183 (C.40:37A-44 et seq.); or a
pollution control financing authority created pursuant to the "New Jersey
Pollution Control Financing Law," P.L.1973, c.376 (C.40:37C-1 et seq.)
that has issued solid waste facility bonds or that has been designated by the
county pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1975, c.326 (C.13:1E-21) to supervise the
implementation of the district solid waste management plan.

���� "Revenues" means
receipts, fees, rentals or other payments to be received on account of lease,
mortgage, conditional sale, or sale, and payments and any other income derived
from the lease, sale or other disposition of a project, moneys in such reserve
and insurance funds or accounts or other funds and accounts, and income from
the investment thereof, established in connection with the issuance of bonds or
notes for a project or projects, and fees, charges or other moneys to be
received by the authority in respect of projects or school facilities projects
and contracts with persons.

���� "Resolution" means
any resolution adopted or trust agreement executed by the authority, pursuant
to which bonds of the authority are authorized to be issued.

���� "Solid waste" means
garbage, refuse, and other discarded materials resulting from industrial,
commercial and agricultural operations, and from domestic and community
activities, and shall include all other waste materials including liquids, except
for source separated recyclable materials or source separated food waste
collected by livestock producers approved by the State Department of
Agriculture to collect, prepare and feed such wastes to livestock on their own
farms.

���� "Solid waste
disposal" means the storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final
disposal of solid waste.

���� "Solid waste facility
bonds" means the bonds, notes or other evidences of financial indebtedness
issued by, or on behalf of, any public authority or county related to the
planning, design, acquisition, construction, renovation, installation, operation
or management of a county solid waste facility.

���� "Solid waste
facilities" means, and includes, the plants, structures and other real and
personal property acquired, constructed or operated by, or on behalf of, any
county or public authority pursuant to the provisions of the "Solid Waste Management
Act," P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.) or any other act, including
transfer stations, incinerators, resource recovery facilities, including
co-composting facilities, sanitary landfill facilities or other plants for the
disposal of solid waste, and all vehicles, equipment and other real and
personal property and rights therein and appurtenances necessary or useful and
convenient for the collection or disposal of solid waste in a sanitary manner.

���� "Energy saving
improvement" means the construction, purchase and installation in a
building devoted to industrial or commercial purposes of any of the following,
designed to reduce the amount of energy from nonrenewable sources needed for
heating and cooling that building: insulation, replacement burners, replacement
high efficiency heating and air conditioning units, including modular boilers
and furnaces, water heaters, central air conditioners with or without heat
recovery to make hot water for industrial or commercial purposes or in office
buildings, and any solar heating or cooling system improvement, including any
system which captures solar radiation to heat a fluid which passes over or
through the collector element of that system and then transfers that fluid to a
point within the system where the heat is withdrawn from the fluid for direct
usage or storage.� These systems shall include, but not necessarily be limited
to, systems incorporating flat plate, evacuated tube or focusing solar collectors.
�The foregoing list shall not be construed to be exhaustive, and shall not
serve to exclude other improvements consistent with the legislative intent of
the provisions of P.L.1983, c.282.

���� "Urban growth zone"
means any area within a municipality receiving State aid pursuant to the
provisions of P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) or a municipality certified
by the Commissioner of Community Affairs to qualify under such law in every
respect except population, which area has been so designated pursuant to an
ordinance of the governing body of such municipality.

���� "District" means a
local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter
13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, a county special services school
district established pursuant to article 8 of chapter 46 of Title 18A of the
New Jersey Statutes, a county vocational school district established pursuant
to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and a
school district under full State intervention pursuant to P.L.1987, c.399
(C.18A:7A-34 et al.).

���� "Local unit" means a
county, municipality, board of education or any other political entity
authorized to construct, operate and maintain a school facilities project and
to borrow money for those purposes pursuant to law.

���� "Other facilities"
means athletic stadiums, swimming pools, any associated structures or related
equipment tied to such facilities including, but not limited to, grandstands
and night field lights, greenhouses, facilities used for non-instructional or
non-educational purposes, and any structure, building, or facility used solely
for school administration.

���� "Refunding bonds"
means bonds, notes or other obligations issued to refinance bonds previously
issued by the authority pursuant to P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.),
P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.) and P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.).

���� "School facilities
project" means the planning, acquisition, demolition, construction,
improvement, alteration, modernization, renovation, reconstruction or capital
maintenance of all or any part of a school facility or of any other personal property
necessary for, or ancillary to, any school facility, and shall include
fixtures, furnishings and equipment, and shall also include, but is not limited
to, site acquisition, site development, the services of design professionals,
such as engineers and architects, construction management, legal services,
financing costs and administrative costs and expenses incurred in connection
with the project.

���� "School facility"
means and includes any structure, building or facility used wholly or in part
for educational purposes by a district and facilities that physically support
such structures, buildings, and facilities such as district wastewater
treatment facilities, power generating facilities, and steam generating
facilities, but shall exclude other facilities.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.57, s.1)

���� 2.��� Section 5 of P.L.1974,
c.80 (C.34:1B-5) is amended to read as follows:

���� 5.��� The authority shall have
the following powers:

���� a.���� To adopt bylaws for the
regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

���� b.��� To adopt and have a seal
and to alter the same at pleasure;

���� c.���� To sue and be sued;

���� d.��� To acquire in the name
of the authority by purchase or otherwise, on such terms and conditions and
such manner as it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the power of eminent
domain in the manner provided by the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971,
c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), any lands or interests therein or other property
which it may determine is reasonably necessary for any project; provided,
however, that the authority in connection with any project shall not take by
exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property except upon consent
thereto given by resolution of the governing body of the municipality in which
such real property is located; and provided further that the authority shall be
limited in its exercise of the power of eminent domain in connection with any
project in qualifying municipalities as defined under the provisions of
P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.), or to municipalities which had a
population, according to the latest federal decennial census, in excess of
10,000;

���� e.���� To enter into contracts
with a person upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine
to be reasonable, including, but not limited to, reimbursement for the
planning, designing, financing, construction, reconstruction, improvement,
equipping, furnishing, operation and maintenance of the project and to pay or
compromise any claims arising therefrom;

���� f.���� To establish and
maintain reserve and insurance funds with respect to the financing of the
project or the school facilities project and any project financed pursuant to
the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002,
c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.);

���� g.��� To sell, convey or lease
to any person all or any portion of a project for such consideration and upon
such terms as the authority may determine to be reasonable;

���� h.��� To mortgage, pledge or
assign or otherwise encumber all or any portion of a project, or revenues,
whenever it shall find such action to be in furtherance of the purposes of this
act, P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the "Municipal Rehabilitation and
Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), P.L.2007,
c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), and sections 3 through 18 of P.L.2009, c.90
(C.52:27D-489c et al.);

���� i.���� To grant options to
purchase or renew a lease for any of its projects on such terms as the
authority may determine to be reasonable;

���� j.���� To contract for and to
accept any gifts or grants or loans of funds or property or financial or other
aid in any form from the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof, or from the State or any agency, instrumentality or
political subdivision thereof, or from any other source and to comply, subject
to the provisions of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), section 6 of P.L.2001,
c.401 (C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the "Municipal
Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et
al.), and P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), with the terms and conditions
thereof;

���� k.��� In connection with any
action undertaken by the authority in the performance of its duties and any
application for assistance or commitments therefor and modifications thereof,
to require and collect such fees and charges as the authority shall determine
to be reasonable, including but not limited to fees and charges for the
authority's administrative, organizational, insurance, operating, legal, and
other expenses;

���� l.���� To adopt, amend and
repeal regulations to carry out the provisions of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et
seq.), section 6 of P.L.2001, c.401 (C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1
et al.), the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002,
c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), and P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.);

���� m.�� To acquire, purchase,
manage and operate, hold and dispose of real and personal property or interests
therein, take assignments of rentals and leases and make and enter into all
contracts, leases, agreements and arrangements necessary or incidental to the
performance of its duties;

���� n.��� To purchase, acquire and
take assignments of notes, mortgages and other forms of security and evidences
of indebtedness;

���� o.��� To purchase, acquire,
attach, seize, accept or take title to any project or school facilities project
by conveyance or by foreclosure, and sell, lease, manage or operate any project
or school facilities project for a use specified in this act, P.L.2000, c.72
(C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery
Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235
et al.), and sections 3 through 18 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.);

���� p.��� To borrow money and to
issue bonds of the authority and to provide for the rights of the holders
thereof, as provided in P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), section 6 of
P.L.2001, c.401 (C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the
"Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43
(C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), and sections 3
through 18 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.);

���� q.��� To extend credit or make
loans to any person for the planning, designing, acquiring, constructing,
reconstructing, improving, equipping and furnishing of a project or school
facilities project, which credits or loans may be secured by loan and security
agreements, mortgages, leases and any other instruments, upon such terms and
conditions as the authority shall deem reasonable, including provision for the
establishment and maintenance of reserve and insurance funds, and to require
the inclusion in any mortgage, lease, contract, loan and security agreement or
other instrument, of such provisions for the construction, use, operation and
maintenance and financing of a project or school facilities project as the
authority may deem necessary or desirable;

���� r.���� To guarantee up to 90%
of the amount of a loan to a person, if the proceeds of the loan are to be
applied to the purchase and installation, in a building devoted to industrial
or commercial purposes, or in an office building, of an energy improvement system;

���� s.���� To employ consulting
engineers, architects, attorneys, real estate counselors, appraisers, and such
other consultants and employees as may be required in the judgment of the
redevelopment utility to carry out the purposes of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et
seq.), section 6 of P.L.2001, c.401 (C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1
et al.), the "Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act,"
P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.),
and sections 3 through 18 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.), and to fix
and pay their compensation from funds available to the redevelopment utility
therefor, all without regard to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey
Statutes;

���� t.���� To do and perform any
acts and things authorized by P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), section 6 of
P.L.2001, c.401 (C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the
"Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43
(C.52:27BBB-1 et al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), and sections 3
through 18 of P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.), under, through or by means
of its own officers, agents and employees, or by contract with any person;

���� u.��� To procure insurance
against any losses in connection with its property, operations or assets in
such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;

���� v.��� To do any and all things
necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given
and granted in P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.), section 6 of P.L.2001, c.401
(C.34:1B-4.1), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), the "Municipal
Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et
al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), and sections 3 through 18 of
P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.);

���� w.�� To construct,
reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve, alter, equip, maintain or repair or provide
for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration, equipping or
maintenance or repair of any development property and lot, award and enter into
construction contracts, purchase orders and other contracts with respect
thereto, upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine to be
reasonable, including, but not limited to, reimbursement for the planning,
designing, financing, construction, reconstruction, improvement, equipping,
furnishing, operation and maintenance of any such development property and the
settlement of any claims arising therefrom and the establishment and
maintenance of reserve funds with respect to the financing of such development
property;

���� x.��� When authorized by the
governing body of a municipality exercising jurisdiction over an urban growth
zone, to construct, cause to be constructed or to provide financial assistance
to projects in an urban growth zone which shall be exempt from the terms and
requirements of the land use ordinances and regulations, including, but not
limited to, the master plan and zoning ordinances, of such municipality;

���� y.��� To enter into business
employment incentive agreements as provided in the "Business Employment
Incentive Program Act," P.L.1996, c.26 (C.34:1B-124 et al.);

���� z.���� To enter into
agreements or contracts, execute instruments, and do and perform all acts or
things necessary, convenient or desirable for the purposes of the redevelopment
utility to carry out any power expressly provided pursuant to P.L.1974, c.80
(C.34:1B-1 et seq.), P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), and P.L.2007, c.137
(C.52:18A-235 et al.), including, but not limited to, entering into contracts
with the State Treasurer, the Commissioner of Education, districts, the New
Jersey Schools Development Authority, and any other entity which may be
required in order to carry out the provisions of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et
al.), P.L.2007, c.137 (C.52:18A-235 et al.), and sections 3 through 18 of
P.L.2009, c.90 (C.52:27D-489c et al.);

���� aa.�� (Deleted by amendment,
P.L.2007, c.137);

���� bb.� To make and contract to
make loans to local units to finance the cost of school facilities projects and
to acquire and contract to acquire bonds, notes or other obligations issued or
to be issued by local units to evidence the loans, all in accordance with the
provisions of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), and P.L.2007, c.137
(C.52:18A-235 et al.);

���� cc.�� Subject to any agreement
with holders of its bonds issued to finance a project or school facilities
project, obtain as security or to provide liquidity for payment of all or any
part of the principal of and interest and premium on the bonds of the authority
or for the purchase upon tender or otherwise of the bonds, lines of credit,
letters of credit, reimbursement agreements, interest rate exchange agreements,
currency exchange agreements, interest rate floors or caps, options, puts or
calls to hedge payment, currency, rate, spread or similar exposure or similar
agreements, float agreements, forward agreements, insurance contract, surety
bond, commitment to purchase or sell bonds, purchase or sale agreement, or
commitments or other contracts or agreements, and other security agreements or
instruments in any amounts and upon any terms as the authority may determine
and pay any fees and expenses required in connection therewith;

���� dd.� To charge to and collect
from local units, the State and any other person, any fees and charges in
connection with the authority's actions undertaken with respect to school
facilities projects, including, but not limited to, fees and charges for the
authority's administrative, organization, insurance, operating and other
expenses incident to the financing of school facilities projects;

���� ee.�� To make loans to
refinance solid waste facility bonds through the issuance of bonds or other
obligations and the execution of any agreements with counties or public
authorities to effect the refunding or rescheduling of solid waste facility
bonds, or otherwise provide for the payment of all or a portion of any series
of solid waste facility bonds.� Any county or public authority refunding or
rescheduling its solid waste facility bonds pursuant to this subsection shall
provide for the payment of not less than fifty percent of the aggregate debt
service for the refunded or rescheduled debt of the particular county or public
authority for the duration of the loan; except that, whenever the solid waste
facility bonds to be refinanced were issued by a public authority and the
county solid waste facility was utilized as a regional county solid waste
facility, as designated in the respective adopted district solid waste
management plans of the participating counties as approved by the department
prior to November 10, 1997, and the utilization of the facility was established
pursuant to tonnage obligations set forth in their respective interdistrict
agreements, the public authority refunding or rescheduling its solid waste
facility bonds pursuant to this subsection shall provide for the payment of a
percentage of the aggregate debt service for the refunded or rescheduled debt
of the public authority not to exceed the percentage of the specified tonnage
obligation of the host county for the duration of the loan.� Whenever the solid
waste facility bonds are the obligation of a public authority, the relevant
county shall execute a deficiency agreement with the authority, which shall
provide that the county pledges to cover any shortfall and to pay deficiencies
in scheduled repayment obligations of the public authority.� All costs
associated with the issuance of bonds pursuant to this subsection may be paid
by the authority from the proceeds of these bonds.� Any county or public
authority is hereby authorized to enter into any agreement with the authority
necessary, desirable or convenient to effectuate the provisions of this
subsection.

���� The authority shall not issue
bonds or other obligations to effect the refunding or rescheduling of solid
waste facility bonds after December 31, 2002.� The authority may refund its own
bonds issued for the purposes herein at any time;

���� ff.�� To pool loans for any
local government units that are refunding bonds and do and perform any and all
acts or things necessary, convenient or desirable for the purpose of the
authority to achieve more favorable interest rates and terms for those local
governmental units;

���� gg.� To finance projects
approved by the board, provide staff support to the board, oversee and monitor
progress on the part of the board in carrying out the revitalization, economic
development and restoration projects authorized pursuant to the "Municipal
Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act," P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-1 et
al.) and otherwise fulfilling its responsibilities pursuant thereto;

���� hh.� To offer financial
assistance to qualified film production companies as provided in the "New
Jersey Film Production Assistance Act," P.L.2003, c.182 (C.34:1B-178 et
al.);

���� ii.��� To finance or develop
private or public parking facilities or structures, which may include the use
of solar photovoltaic equipment, in municipalities qualified to receive State
aid pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) and municipalities
that contain areas designated pursuant to P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et al.)
as Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan), Planning Area 2 (Suburban), or a town
center, and to provide appropriate assistance, including but not limited to,
extensions of credit, loans, and guarantees, to municipalities qualified to
receive State aid pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et
seq.) and municipalities that contain areas designated pursuant to P.L.1985,
c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et seq.) as Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan), Planning Area 2
(Suburban), or a town center, and their agencies and instrumentalities or to
private entities whose projects are located in those municipalities, in order
to facilitate the financing and development of parking facilities or structures
in such municipalities.� The authority may serve as the issuing agent of bonds
to finance the undertaking of a project for the purposes of this subsection;

���� jj.��� To make grants for the
planning, designing, acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving,
equipping, and furnishing of a project, including, but not limited to, grants
for working capital and meeting payroll requirements, upon such terms and
conditions as the authority shall deem reasonable, during periods of emergency
declared by the Governor and for the duration of economic disruptions due to
the emergency;

���� kk.� To purchase and lease
real property at a nominal rate when it would result in a net economic benefit
to the State, enhance access to employment and investment for underserved
populations, or increase investment and employment in high-growth technology sectors;

[
and
]

���� ll.��� To make investments of
capital, not to exceed $10,000,000 per project, in New Jersey film-lease
partner facilities, as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L.2018, c.56
(C.54:10A-5.39b) and subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.2018, c.56
(C.54A:4-12b), subject to commercially reasonable and customary terms and
conditions as determined by the authority and the New Jersey film-lease partner
facility
; and

����
mm.����������� To develop
and administer the New Jersey Veterans� Organization Building Grant Program
established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.��� ) (pending before
the Legislature as this bill)
.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.97, s.2)

���� 3.��� (New Section) There is
established in the Economic Development Authority the �New Jersey Veterans�
Organization Building Grant Program.�� The purpose of this program shall be to
award grants to veterans� organizations from funds appropriated to the
authority from the �Veterans� Organization Building Grant Fund� established
pursuant to section 4 of P.L.��� , c.�� (C.��� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) in order to assist with the rehabilitation of
existing buildings or assist with the purchase of new buildings used to assist
veterans in this State.� To qualify for a grant, a veterans� organization shall
be designated by the United States Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(19)
organization.� The grants shall be allocated on a competitive basis.� The authority
shall develop criteria for the granting of awards, including limitations on
amounts awarded.� An organization that wishes to apply for a grant under this
program shall submit an application to the authority.� The application shall,
at minimum, include a description of how the organization will assist veterans
in this State using those buildings. �The authority may adopt, in accordance
with the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.),
rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the grant program.

���� 4.��� (New Section)� a.� There
is established in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as
the �Veterans� Organization Building Grant Fund.�

���� b.��� Each taxpayer shall have
the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer�s New Jersey gross income tax
return that a portion of the taxpayer�s tax refund or an enclosed contribution
shall be deposited in such fund in accordance with the provisions of section 1
of P.L.1999, c.21 (C.54A:9-25.14).

���� c.���� Any costs incurred by
the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this
section may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this section, as
determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department
of the Treasury.� The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected
pursuant to this section into the �Veterans� Organization Building Grant Fund.�

���� d.��� The Legislature shall
annually appropriate all funds deposited in the �Veterans� Organization
Building Grant Fund� to the Economic Development Authority to be used
exclusively for the awarding of grants to organizations under the New Jersey
Veterans� Organization Building Grant Program established pursuant to section 3
of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.��� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).� The
Legislature may appropriate additional funds to the �Veterans� Organization
Building Grant Fund� as it may deem necessary.

���� 5.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Economic Development Authority $2,000,000 to
effectuate the purpose of this bill.

���� 6.��� This act shall take
effect 180 days following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the New
Jersey Veterans� Organization Building Grant Program.

���� The bill establishes a grant
program in the Economic Development Authority that will support veterans�
organizations and their building needs, throughout the State.� These
organizations, such as VFW posts, could be in need of new buildings or could
have buildings that are in need of repair.� Grants will be awarded when the
buildings are used to assist veterans.� In order to award the grants, this bill
establishes a fund in the Department of the Treasury, to be known as the
�Veterans� Organization Building Grant Fund.�� This grant program will be
funded by the Legislature through yearly appropriations to the fund.� The grant
program also allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a portion of
their tax refund, or enclose a separate contribution, for the fund.

���� There is appropriated from the
General Fund $2,000,000 to the Economic Development Authority to fund the
�Veterans� Organization Building Grant Program.�