New Jersey § 48:2-29

§ 48:2-29.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the extraordinary and unprecedented

energy costs in recent years have had a deleterious financial impact on senior citizens

and disabled residents in this State, many of whom must meet their regular living

expenses on fixed incomes; that the voters of this State recognized the seriousness

of this situation in 1976 by approving an amendment to the Constitution of the State

of New Jersey which provides that all State revenues derived from the taxation of

gambling establishments in Atlantic City be dedicated to reducing the property taxes,

rentals, telephone, gas, electric, and municipal utility charges of eligible senior

citizens and disabled residents; and, that in 1979 this Legislature created the “Lifeline

Credit Program,” which utilizes casino revenues to provide eligible senior citizens

and disabled residents who are residential electric or gas customers with a credit

against their utility charges. The Legislature further finds and declares that many of the senior citizens and disabled

residents in this State live in accommodations where they do not receive an individual

utility bill, and therefore are not eligible for the “Lifeline Credit Program,” even

though they meet all the other requirements of the program; and, that these citizens,

no less than those who receive individual utility bills, deserve financial relief

from burdensome energy costs. The Legislature, therefore, determines that it serves a public purpose, and is consistent

with the provisions of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, to establish a

tenants' lifeline assistance program, and to fund such a program with revenues derived

from the taxation of casinos.