Extends eligibility for certain SDA grant funding to Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.

S3364

SENATE, No. 3364

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Extends eligibility for certain SDA grant funding to
Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning school facilities projects at the Marie H.
Katzenbach School for the Deaf and amending P.L.2000, c.72.

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

���� 1.��� Section 15 of P.L.2000,
c.72 (C.18A:7G-15) is amended to read as follows:

���� 15. a. In the case of a
district other than an SDA district, for any project approved by the
commissioner after the effective date of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.),
the district may elect to receive a one-time grant for the State share of the
project in accordance with the provisions of subsection b. of this section
rather than annual debt service aid under section 9 of P.L.2000, c.72
(C.18A:7G-9).� The State share payable to the district shall equal the product
of the project's final eligible costs and the district aid percentage or 40
percent, whichever is greater. If the project's design incorporates the
implementation of energy efficiency improvements or the installation of energy
efficient features or equipment, the district aid percentage shall be increased
by no more than five percent.� In order to qualify for a district aid
percentage increase for the implementation of energy efficiency improvements or
the installation of energy efficient features or equipment pursuant to this
subsection, a district shall submit to the development authority and Department
of Education a certification, along with evidential documentation, attesting
that the project's design incorporates the implementation of energy efficiency
improvements or the installation of energy efficient features or equipment.�
The
Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf shall be eligible to receive a one-time
grant in accordance with the provisions of subsection b. of this section.��

���� b.��� The commissioner shall
establish a process for the annual allocation of grant funding.� Under that
process, the commissioner shall annually notify districts of the date on which
the commissioner shall begin to receive applications for grant funding.� A district
shall have 90 days from that date to submit an application to the
commissioner.� The commissioner shall make a decision on a district's
application within 90 days of the submission of all such applications and shall
allocate the grant funding in accordance with the priority process established
pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection m. of section 5 of P.L.2000, c.72
(C.18A:7G-5).

���� c.���� The development
authority shall provide grant funding for the State's share of the final
eligible costs of a school facilities project pursuant to an agreement between
the district and the development authority which shall, in addition to other
terms and conditions, set forth the terms of disbursement of the State share.�
The funding of the State share shall not commence until the district secures
financing for the local share.

(cf: P.L.2023, c.311, s.10)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill extends eligibility
for certain grant funding from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority
(SDA) to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.�

���� The SDA provides grant funding
to non-SDA districts, also known as �regular operating school districts.��
These grants, referred to as �section 15 grants,� are provided to address
health and safety issues and other critical needs.� Under this bill, the Marie
H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf would be eligible to apply for a one-time
section 15 grant.����