52:27D-118.11. Apportionment of funds to municipalities

Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary of section 3 of P.L. 1979, c. 118 (C. 52:27D-118.3), the amounts appropriated in any State fiscal year beginning after June 30, 1985 for distribution to municipalities under the provisions of P.L. 1979, c. 118 (C. 52:27D-118.1 et seq.) shall be apportioned as follows:

a. Any municipality which received State aid under P.L. 1979, c. 118 (C. 52:27D-118.1 et seq.) during the 1985 State fiscal year shall first be apportioned, as matching funds pursuant to subsection a. of section 3 thereof, the greatest of the following amounts: (1) the amount received during the 1985 local budget year; (2) the amount received in any previous local budget year; or (3) the amount to which the municipality is entitled in any subsequent local budget year.

b. A municipality which is entitled to such aid on or after the effective date of this supplementary act, but which did not receive such aid during the 1985 local budget year, shall then be apportioned the amount for which it qualifies.

c. 65% of any amount appropriated above that required under subsections a. and b. of this section, and appropriated for additional police services shall then be apportioned to qualifying municipalities to provide a uniform percentage increase in the amount apportioned to these municipalities. The amount so apportioned shall be made available exclusively to allow employment of full-time police officers regularly assigned uniformed patrol duties in addition to the number of full-time police officers employed by the municipality and regularly assigned to uniformed patrol duties on January 31, 1985. In order to continue receiving funds for this purpose after the effective date of this amendatory act, a municipality shall be required to maintain the number of full-time police officers employed and assigned uniformed patrol duties as of January 1, 1986 less the number of officers who retired, resigned or separated from the force involuntarily for reasons other than layoffs.

d. The remaining amount appropriated for additional police services shall then be available to provide assistance to nonqualifying municipalities which maintain a regularly organized police force: (1) to employ full-time police officers regularly assigned uniformed patrol duties in addition to the number of full-time police officers employed by the municipality and regularly assigned to uniformed patrol duties on January 31, 1985; or (2) upon approval of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services, to pay for additional overtime police patrol activities performed by full-time police officers. The amount approved by the director for overtime activities shall be for the costs of overtime activities of full-time police officers which exceed the cost of those overtime activities in local budget year 1985. No municipality which is ineligible to receive a revenue sharing distribution pursuant to P.L. 1976, c. 73 (C. 54A:10-1 et seq.), from the State in the 1985 local budget year shall be eligible for assistance pursuant to this subsection. Each eligible municipality may be apportioned an amount not to exceed that proportion of the total amount available to all such municipalities as the number of full-time police officers regularly assigned to uniformed patrol duties that it employed as of January 31, 1985 bears to the entire number of such full-time officers employed on that date by all such municipalities. In order to receive funds for this purpose, an eligible municipality shall be required to provide from other sources at least 50% of the cost of employing the additional police officers or providing additional overtime activities, as appropriate.

e. Any two or more nonqualifying municipalities may join together under the "Interlocal Services Act" (P.L. 1973, c. 208, C. 40:8A-1 et seq.) for the purpose of receiving and expending funds pursuant to subsection d. above. The Director of the Division of Local Government Services, in contracting with such municipalities pursuant to section 4 of P.L. 1985, c. 170 (C. 52:27D-118.14), is authorized to establish a matching requirement of 50% of the cost of employing additional police officers or providing additional overtime activities, as appropriate. No more than 10% of the total available to nonqualifying municipalities may be distributed under this subsection.

L. 1985, c. 170, s.1; amended by L. 1987, c. 90, s. 1.