This bill mandates a minimum annual appropriation of $10 million from the State's General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, starting July 1 following the bill's enactment. This funding is intended to support local health departments in New Jersey, which previously received similar funding until it was eliminated in the FY 2011 Appropriations Act. The bill aims to restore a flexible funding source that allows local health departments to address various public health needs and priorities effectively.
The legislation supplements the Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977, which historically provided local health departments with the necessary resources to respond to local health issues and emerging threats. Currently, these departments rely on local property taxes and designated State and federal funding, which limits their operational flexibility. By reinstating dedicated Public Health Priority Funding, the bill seeks to enhance the capacity of local health departments to manage operational expenses and maintain essential public health programs.