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June 24, 2022

 
I.   State Issues
II.  Federal Issues
III. Also of Interest
 
Municipal Clerks: Please forward to your Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads.
 
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I. State Issues


a. Act Today on to Advance Energy Tax Receipts Restoration

 
With less than a week to the deadline for adoption of the State’s FY 2023, time is of the essence to see the restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. To date, the Assembly has not taken action on A-3804/S-330, which will restore the $331 million distributed to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years that has been diverted for a decade.
 
Immediate action is needed to get this critical legislation to advance. Please contact your Assembly representatives urging them to support passage of the restoration before the passage of the FY 2023. Further, ask your Legislators to sign on as a co-sponsor of these bills. 

Please contact Governor Murphy ask for support for these bills. Join your fellow Mayors from across the State and sign onto our open letter to the
 
For more information, please see the ETR Resource Center on the League’s website. 
 
Contacts:

  • Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
  • Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

b. Assembly Committee Advances Firefighter Cancer Screening Mandate

 
On Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-4127, which mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). This provides for the approximately 2,000 firefighters who were excluded from a law signed in January (P.L. 2021, c. 478) that covers the vast majority of firefighters. This legislation had been second referenced to this committee after being favorably reported from Assembly State and Local Government Committee earlier this month.
 
Under current law, a firefighter enrolled in SHBP is entitled to a cancer screening examination every three years. This bill expands the access to the same examinations for firefighters who have a different health care plan through their employers or receive health insurance coverage in any other manner. 
 
The League supports this measure because it provides parity for all firefighters while providing funding and it creates a risk management benchmark.
 
The bill awaits full consideration in the Assembly. S-2743, the Senate companion, has been referenced to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and awaits consideration.
 
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

c. FY2023 Budget Update

 
With the FY2023 budget deadline of June 30 fast approaching, Governor Murphy and the State Legislature continue to consider how to use the $6.9 in surplus revenue. Governor Murphy and majority leadership continue to follow their affordability agenda for New Jersey including exploring new state programs to help residents with broad property tax relief and increasing funding for schools and the state’s healthcare system.
 
The budget includes Governor Murphy’s $2 billion property tax relief ANCHOR Program. The ANCHOR Program would provide 870,000 homeowners with a household income of under $150,000 a $1,500 property tax credit on their property tax bill each year; 290,000-plus homeowners with a household income between $150,000 and $250,000 would receive a $1,000 property tax credit on their property tax bill each year; and 900,000-plus renters with incomes up to $150,000 would receive $450 each year to help offset the rent increases caused by increasing property taxes.
 
Minority leadership proposed a detailed budget plan to use $4.5 billion for a pair of tax rebates, $2 billion for halting planned tax and toll hikes, $1 billion for property tax relief by increasing state aid to schools, and $790 million for structural tax reductions. The proposal would grow the budget surplus to more than $5 billion in preparation for the next recession and increased oversight of certain monies that would be spent.
 
We anticipate the FY2023 budget will be passed by the deadline of June 30. We will continue to provide updates as the process moves forward.
 
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.

d. Reminder: New Lead-Based Paint Inspection Requirements Become Effective July 22

 
Please remember, the new lead-based paint inspection requirements pursuant to P.L.2021, c.182, are becoming effective July 22, 2022. The law, signed by Governor Murphy last year, imposes an obligation on municipalities to perform or hire a certified lead evaluation contractor to perform inspections of certain single-family, two-family, and multiple rental dwellings for lead-based paint hazards every three years or upon tenant turnover where there is no valid lead-safe certification. Municipalities must permit dwelling owners/landlords to directly hire a certified lead evaluation contractor for this purpose. 
 
Municipalities that fail to comply with the new inspection requirements may be subject to a penalty of up to $1,000 per week.
 
Municipal officials are encouraged to review the guidance issued by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), along with the recent Lunch and Learn program hosted by the League, and presented by the DCA, on these new requirements.
 
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.

e. Division Announces Extension of Audit Deadlines

 
The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) issued Local Finance Notice 2022-12 announcing a calendar year 2021 audit deadline extension and GASB 68 and 75 for municipal and county audits. All local units with a calendar year budget must complete and file their 2021 audits by the extended deadline of August 31, 2022. To ensure timely filing of county and municipal audits, the DLGS has authorized counties and calendar year municipalities to include in their annual audits the most recent available audited GASB 68 and GASB 75 financial information published by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

II. Federal Issues


a. Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program Funding Opportunity

 
The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program. Municipalities are eligible to apply and can partner with industry and community groups. The program opens on June 21, 2022, and the application process closes on September 30, 2022.

For more information, please read the League’s recent blog post.
 
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

b. President Biden Proposes Federal Fuel Tax Holiday

 
As a measure to reduce increasing costs as well to mitigate the supply chain issues regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for 90 days. Pausing the 18.4 cent per gallon gasoline and 24 cents diesel federal tax during the busy summer travel season requires congressional action.
 
The proposal has met with public resistance in both chambers and both political parties for a variety of reasons including an estimated cost of $10 billion to the Highway Trust Fund and the view that it would not save a significant amount of money.
 
In addition, President Biden has urged states to suspend their gas taxes for the summer travel season or offer residents a gas tax rebate. Public reports indicate that suspending New Jersey’s 42 cent a gallon gas tax is unlikely.
 
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

III. Also of Interest


a. State Launches Healthy Community Planning Website

 
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced the launch of the Healthy Community Planning New Jersey (HCPNJ) website, which provides municipal-level reports to help local governments and the public better understand and address environmental threats to public health faced by their communities.
 
Each municipal-level report contains data on more than 30 environmental, health, and demographic indicators for each municipality. The indicators used in each report are based on environmental factors that can contribute to public health concerns in New Jersey communities. Reports will be updated as new data becomes available.
 
We encourage you to share this information with your Municipal Manager and Health Officer.

b. USDA Authorizes COVID Vaccine for Children

 
On June 17, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USDA) authorized both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children 6 years of age or under. Children who are five years of age receiving the Pfizer vaccine will be given three doses at one-tenth the strength of adult doses, and children under age 6 receiving the Moderna vaccine for their age group will receive two doses at one-quarter the strength of an adult dose.
 
For more information on vaccines, treatments, and available vaccination appointments at nearby locations, visit covid19.nj.gov or contact the Vaccine Call Center at 855-568-0545.



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