Read the full stored bill text
A2060
ASSEMBLY, No. 2060
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
���� Provides that Palisades Interstate Park Commission is
eligible to receive certain funding from New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
concerning the Palisades Interstate Park Commission,
amending P.L.1985, c.334 and P.L.2023, c.63, and supplementing Title 58 of the
Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.1985,
c.334 (C.58:11B-3) is amended to read as follows:
���� 3.��� As used in sections 1
through 27 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 through C.58:11B-27), sections 23
through 27 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-10.1, C.58:11B-20.1, C.58:11B-21.1,
C.58:11B-22.1, and C.58:11B-22.2), and sections 22 and 34 through 38 of
P.L.2016, c.56 (C.58:11B-10.3 through C.58:11B-10.5, C.58:11B-20.2,
C.58:11B-22.3, and C.58:11B-22.4):
���� "Aviation project"
means a project to develop or improve county or municipal airport facilities,
or airport facilities owned or operated by a regional transportation authority
that is not a bi-state authority, and related infrastructure or capital
equipment, including, but not limited to, any design, planning, acquisition,
construction, reconstruction, relocation, installation, removal, repair, or
rehabilitation project that facilitates, increases the efficiency of, or
improves the capacity for inter-modal trade for commercial and industrial
facilities that are part of airport facilities. "Aviation project"
includes, but is not limited to, any project to develop or improve terminal
facilities designed for public use and for the transportation of persons or
property, such as airports, runways, berms, basins, storage places, sheds,
warehouses, and related infrastructure;
���� "Bonds" means bonds
issued by the trust pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) or
P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-10.1 et al.);
���� "Combined sewer
overflow" means the discharge of untreated or partially treated stormwater
runoff and wastewater from a combined sewer system into a body of water;
���� "Combined sewer
system" means a sewer system designed to carry sanitary wastewater at all
times, which is also designed to collect and transport stormwater runoff from
streets and other sources, thereby serving a combined purpose;
���� "Commissioner" means
the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection;
���� "Cost" means the
cost of all labor, materials, machinery and equipment, lands, property, rights
and easements, financing charges, interest on bonds, notes or other
obligations, plans and specifications, surveys or estimates of costs and
revenues, engineering and legal services, and all other expenses necessary or
incident to all or part of an environmental infrastructure project;
���� "Department" means
the Department of Environmental Protection;
���� "Environmental
infrastructure project" means the acquisition, construction, improvement,
repair or reconstruction of all or part of any structure, facility or
equipment, or real or personal property necessary for or ancillary to any: (1)
wastewater treatment system project, including any stormwater management or
combined sewer overflow abatement projects; or (2) water supply project, as
authorized pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) or P.L.1997, c.224
(C.58:11B-10.1 et al.), including any water resources project, as authorized
pursuant to P.L.2003, c.162;
���� "Federal infrastructure
bank program" means the United States Department of Transportation State
Infrastructure Bank Program provided for in section 350 of Pub.L.104-59 and
Pub.L.102-240 as amended or superseded;
���� "Local government
unit" means (1) a State authority, county, municipality, municipal, county
or regional sewerage or utility authority, municipal sewerage district, joint
meeting, improvement authority,
the Palisades Interstate Park Commission
established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.104 (C.32:14-1.1 et seq.),
or any other
political subdivision of the State authorized to construct, operate, and
maintain wastewater treatment systems; (2) a State authority, district water
supply commission, county, municipality, municipal, county or regional
utilities authority, municipal water district, joint meeting,
the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.104 (C.32:14-1.1
et seq.),
or any other political subdivision of the State authorized
pursuant to law to operate or maintain a public water supply system or to
construct, rehabilitate, operate, or maintain water supply facilities or
otherwise provide water for human consumption; (3) a county, municipality,
municipal, county or regional transportation authority,
the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.104 (C.32:14-1.1
et seq.),
or any other political subdivision of the State authorized to
construct, operate, or maintain public highways or transportation projects; (4)
a county, municipality, or other political subdivision or instrumentality of
the State, or a municipal, county, or State authority that is not a bi-state
authority, authorized to construct, operate, or maintain ports or marine
projects; (5) a county, municipality, municipal or regional transportation
authority, or other political subdivision or instrumentality of the State
authorized to construct, operate, or maintain airports or aviation projects; or
(6) a local government unit as defined in section 2 of P.L.2023, c.63
(C.58:11B-20.4) authorized to receive funds pursuant to the "Safeguarding
Tomorrow Through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act," Pub.L.116-284 (42
U.S.C. s.5135), as amended or supplemented, and P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3
et al.);
���� "Marine project"
means a project to develop or improve public port or terminal facilities, and
related infrastructure or capital equipment, including, but not limited to, any
design, planning, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, relocation,
installation, removal, repair, or rehabilitation project that facilitates,
increases the efficiency of, or improves the capacity for inter-modal trade and
cargo movement for commercial or industrial facilities that are part of port or
terminal facilities.� "Marine project" includes, but is not limited
to, dredging, soil hardening, and paving of the port facilities, and ferry
terminal facilities designed for public use and the transportation of persons
or property such as water craft, docks, wharves, piers, slips, storage places,
sheds, warehouses, and related infrastructure.� "Marine project"
shall not include any project that relates to or supports recreational or
commercial boating activities;
���� "New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Financing Program" means the financing program to fund
environmental infrastructure projects;
���� "New Jersey
Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program" means the financing
program to fund transportation projects, aviation projects, and marine
projects;
���� "Notes" means notes
issued by the trust pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.), P.L.1997,
c.224 (C.58:11B-10.1 et al.), or sections 22 and 34 through 38 of P.L.2016,
c.56 (C.58:11B-10.3 through C.58:11B-10.5, C.58:11B-20.2, C.58:11B-22.3, and
C.58:11B-22.4);
���� "Onsite wastewater
treatment and disposal system" means an onsite system designed to treat
and dispose of domestic sewage;
���� "Other assistance"
means forms of financial assistance, in addition to loans, authorized by the
New Jersey Infrastructure Bank from the State Transportation Infrastructure
Bank Fund, the wastewater treatment system general loan fund, the water supply
facilities general loan fund, or the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation
Program Revolving Loan Fund established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2023, c.63
(C.58:11B-10.6), including, but not limited to, use of funds to: provide credit
enhancements, serve as a capital reserve for bond or other debt instrument
financing, subsidize interest rates, ensure the issuance of letters of credit
and credit instruments, finance purchase and lease agreements with respect to
transit projects, and provide bond or other debt financing instrument security;
���� "Planning, design, and
construction loan" means a short-term or temporary loan for eligible costs
incurred in project planning, engineering design, or construction issued before
or during the planning stage of a project;
���� "Project" means the
acquisition, construction, improvement, repair or reconstruction of all or part
of any structure, facility, or equipment, or real or personal property
necessary for or ancillary to any: (1) wastewater treatment system project,
including any stormwater management or combined sewer overflow abatement
projects; (2) water supply project, as authorized pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-1 et seq.) or P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-10.1 et al.), including any
water resources project, as authorized pursuant to P.L.2003, c.162; or (3)
transportation project, aviation project, or marine project authorized pursuant
to sections 22 and 34 through 38 of P.L.2016, c.56 (C.58:11B-10.3 through
C.58:11B-10.5, C.58:11B-20.2, C.58:11B-22.3, and C.58:11B-22.4);
���� "Public highway"
means public roads, streets, expressways, freeways, parkways, motorways and
boulevards, including bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges,
express bus roadways, bus pullouts and turnarounds, park-ride facilities,
traffic circles, grade separations, traffic control devices, the elimination or
improvement of crossings of railroads and highways, whether at-grade or not
at-grade, bicycle and pedestrian pathways and pedestrian and bicycle bridges,
and any property, rights of way, easements and interests therein needed for the
construction, improvement, and maintenance of highways;
���� "Public water
utility" means any investor-owned water company or small water company;
���� "Small water
company" means any company, purveyor, or entity, other than a governmental
agency, that provides water for human consumption and which regularly serves
less than 1,000 customer connections, including nonprofit, noncommunity water systems
owned or operated by a nonprofit group or organization;
���� "Stormwater management
system" means any equipment, plants, structures, machinery, apparatus,
management practices, or land, or any combination thereof, acquired, used,
constructed, implemented, or operated to prevent nonpoint source pollution,
abate improper cross-connections and interconnections between stormwater and
sewer systems, minimize stormwater runoff, reduce soil erosion, or induce
groundwater recharge, or any combination thereof;
���� "Transportation
project" means a capital project for public highways, approach roadways,
and other necessary land-side improvements, ramps, signal systems, roadbeds,
transit lanes or rights of way, related transmission and distribution lines,
pedestrian walkways and bridges connecting to passenger stations and servicing
facilities, bridges, and grade crossings;
���� "Trust" means the
New Jersey Infrastructure Bank created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-4);
���� "Wastewater" means
residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural liquid waste, sewage,
septage, stormwater runoff, or any combination thereof, or other liquid residue
discharged or collected into a sewer system or stormwater management system, or
any combination thereof;
���� "Wastewater treatment
system" means any equipment, plants, structures, machinery, apparatus, or
land, or any combination thereof, acquired, used, constructed or operated by,
or on behalf of, a local government unit for the storage, collection, reduction,
recycling, reclamation, disposal, separation, or other treatment of wastewater
or sewage sludge, or for the collection or treatment, or both, of stormwater
runoff and wastewater, or for the final disposal of residues resulting from the
treatment of wastewater, including, but not limited to, pumping and ventilating
stations, treatment plants and works, connections, outfall sewers,
interceptors, trunk lines, stormwater management systems, and other personal
property and appurtenances necessary for their use or operation;
"wastewater treatment system" shall include a stormwater management
system or a combined sewer system;
���� "Wastewater treatment
system project" means any work relating to the acquisition, construction,
improvement, repair or reconstruction of all or part of any structure, facility
or equipment, or real or personal property necessary for or ancillary to any
wastewater treatment system that meets the requirements set forth in sections
20, 21, and 22 of P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-20, C.58:11B-21, and C.58:11B-22);
or any work relating to any of the stormwater management or combined sewer
overflow abatement projects identified in the stormwater management and
combined sewer overflow abatement project priority list adopted by the
commissioner pursuant to section 28 of P.L.1989, c.181; or any work relating to
the purposes set forth in section 6 of P.L.2003, c.162; or any work relating to
any other project eligible for financing under the "Federal Water
Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972" (33 U.S.C. s.1251 et seq.), or
any amendatory or supplementary acts thereto;
���� "Water resources
project" means any work related to transferring water between public water
systems during a state of water emergency, to avert a drought emergency in all
or any part of the State, to plan, design or construct interconnections of
existing water supplies, or to extend water supplies to areas with contaminated
ground water supplies;
���� "Water supply
facilities" means and refers to the real property and the plants,
structures, interconnections between existing water supply facilities,
machinery and equipment and other property, real, personal and mixed, acquired,
constructed or operated, or to be acquired, constructed or operated, in whole
or in part, by or on behalf of a public water utility, or by or on behalf of
the State or a local government unit, for the purpose of augmenting the natural
water resources of the State and making available an increased supply of water
for all uses, or of conserving existing water resources, and any and all
appurtenances necessary, useful or convenient for the collecting, impounding,
storing, improving, treating, filtering, conserving or transmitting of water,
and for the preservation and protection of these resources and facilities,
whether in public or private ownership, and providing for the conservation and
development of future water supply resources, and facilitating incidental
recreational uses thereof;
���� "Water supply
project" means any work relating to the acquisition, construction,
improvement, repair or reconstruction of all or part of any structure, facility
or equipment, or real or personal property necessary for or ancillary to water
supply facilities that meets the requirements set forth in sections 24, 25, and
26 of P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-20.1, C.58:11B-21.1, and C.58:11B-22.1); or any
work relating to the purposes set forth in section 4 of P.L.1981, c.261; or any
work relating to the purposes set forth in section 6 of P.L.2003, c.162; or any
work relating to any other project eligible for funding pursuant to the federal
"Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996," Pub.L.104-182, and any
amendatory and supplementary acts thereto.
(cf: P.L.2025, c.14, s.1)
���� 2.��� Section 2 of P.L.2023,
c.63 (C.58:11B-20.4) is amended to read as follows:
���� 2.��� As used in sections 1
through 8 of P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.):
���� "Bank" means the New
Jersey Infrastructure Bank, created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-4).
���� "Bonds" mean the
bonds issued, or authorized to be issued, by the bank pursuant to sections 1
through 8 of P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.) and in compliance with the
bank's authority pursuant to, and subject to the same conditions as provided
in, P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.) or P.L.1997, c.224 (C.58:11B-10.1 et
al.), as applicable.
���� "Commissioner" means
the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.
���� "Community Hazard
Assistance Mitigation Program" means the program established by the bank
pursuant to sections 1 through 8 of P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.).
���� "Fund" means the
Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program Revolving Loan Fund established
pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-10.6).
���� "Hazard mitigation and
resilience project" means a hazard mitigation and resilience project
undertaken by the State, a local government unit, or a nonprofit organization
in accordance with the provisions of the STORM Act and a State or local hazard
mitigation plan.
���� "Loan origination
fee" means the fee charged by the bank in connection with services
provided to a sponsor of a hazard mitigation and resilience project pursuant to
the sponsor's participation in the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program.�
A project sponsor may finance any portion of the loan origination fee through
the bank by a hazard mitigation and resilience project assistance loan to pay a
portion of the costs incurred by the bank in the implementation of the
Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program.
���� "Local government
unit" means any county or municipality, or any agency, instrumentality,
authority, or corporation of any county or municipality,
the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.104 (C.32:14-1.1
et seq.),
or any other entity eligible to receive federal funds pursuant to
the STORM Act.
���� "Nonprofit
organization" means a private nonprofit organization that is exempt from
federal taxation pursuant to section 501 (c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, 26 U.S.C. s.501 (c)(3).
���� "Other assistance"
means the same as the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1985,
c.334 (C.58:11B-3).
���� "State Office of
Emergency Management" means the Office of Emergency Management in the
Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
���� "STORM Act" means
the "Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act," Pub.
L. 116-284, as amended or superseded, and any rules, regulations, or guidance
adopted pursuant thereto by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(cf: P.L.2025, c.14, s.7)
���� 3.� (New section). a.� As used
in this section:
���� "Commission" means
the Palisades Interstate Park Commission established pursuant to P.L.1980,
c.104 (C.32:14-1.1 et seq.).
���� "Department" means
the Department of Environmental Protection.
���� "Hazard mitigation and
resilience project" means the same as the term is defined in section 2 of
P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.4).
���� "New Jersey
Infrastructure Bank" or "I-Bank" means the New Jersey
Infrastructure Bank created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-4).
���� "Transportation project"
means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-3).
���� "Wastewater treatment
system project" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of
P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-3).
���� "Water supply project"
means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1985, c.334
(C.58:11B-3).
���� b.� To the extent consistent
with applicable federal law, and notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1985,
c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.),� P.L.2016, c.56, (C.58:11B-10.3 et al.), or
P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.) to the contrary, a hazard mitigation and
resilience project, transportation project, wastewater treatment system project,
or water supply project undertaken by the commission in New Jersey shall be
considered a local government project for the purposes of eligibility for
funding pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et seq.), P.L.2016, c.56, (C.58:11B-10.3
et al.), and P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3 et al.).� Requests by the commission
for funding shall be submitted to the I-Bank or the department, as appropriate,
and reviewed in the same manner as similar requests from other local government
units.
���� c.��� The passage of a
legislative appropriations bill pursuant to P.L.1985, c.334 (C.58:11B-1 et
seq.), P.L.2016, c.56, (C.58:11B-10.3 et al.), or P.L.2023, c.63 (C.58:11B-20.3
et al.), which contains an appropriation for a project sponsored by the
commission, shall be deemed legislative authority for that project for the
purposes of R.S.32:17-8.
���� 4. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill would provide that
the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (commission) is eligible to receive
certain forms of funding from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank).
���� Specifically, the bill would
authorize the commission to apply for funding from the I-Bank for a hazard
mitigation and resilience project, transportation project, wastewater treatment
system project, or water supply project undertaken by the commission.� The bill
would specify that the commission would be considered a local government unit
for the purposes of eligibility for funding pursuant to the I-Bank's enabling
statutes, and applications for funding from the commission would be received
and reviewed in the same manner as other applications from local government
units.