New Jersey § app:a-9

§ app:a-9.

a. There is hereby established the “New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program” (NJNSGP)

in the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, which shall provide grants to

eligible nonprofit organizations at greatest risk of attack as annually appropriated

(1) to hire permanent or temporary security personnel limited to federal, State, county,

or municipal law enforcement officers, special law enforcement officers appointed

pursuant to P.L.1985, c. 439 ( C.40A:14-146.8 et seq. ), or security officers registered pursuant to P.L.2004, c. 134 ( C.45:19A-1 et seq. ), and (2) for acquisition of target-hardening equipment for the purpose of preparedness

against threats, attacks, and other violent acts. b. The director shall administer the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program. There shall annually be distributed to approved eligible nonprofit organizations

a maximum grant of up to $10,000 per approved application for personnel and a maximum

grant of up to $50,000 for target-hardening equipment. The director may adjust these amounts based upon the final availability of funds,

analytical trends, and emerging threats. c. An eligible nonprofit organization shall apply to the Office of Homeland Security

and Preparedness to receive a grant under the program, for either costs of security

personnel or acquisition of target-hardening equipment, or both; however, an applicant

only may be awarded funds for either personnel or for equipment in a fiscal year. The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness first shall evaluate all applications

as to whether they are at high-risk of terrorist attack, threats, domestic extremism,

and other violent acts. The costs of hiring security personnel shall include the cost of hiring security

personnel for an event within the geographic boundaries of the State primarily organized

by the applicant away from the applicant's physical location as recorded on the grant

application and for which the applicant bears legal liability. The funds distributed under the program shall be utilized solely for security investments

made within this State. No funds shall be utilized to support security needs while traveling outside of

this State. Applicants may apply annually for a disbursement of funds for costs of security personnel

and may be awarded grants in successive years. The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness shall assign a preference for applicants

who have not received a federal security grant that includes funding for hiring security

personnel in the last two federal grant cycles. Applicants may apply annually for grant funds for acquisition of target-hardening

equipment. The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness shall assign a preference for applicants

who have not received either a federal or State security grant for target-hardening

equipment in the last two grant cycles. d. The Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness shall request annually as part

of its annual budget proposal a minimum of $2,000,000 to fund the grants authorized

pursuant to this section. The office also shall pursue and develop, with the Department of Law and Public

Safety, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and any other applicable

State or federal agency, any available federal, State, local, and private funding

for the grants authorized pursuant to this section. e. Of the amount appropriated to the program, five percent shall be allocated to the

Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to be used to administer the program.