This bill amends the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium's grant eligibility and reporting requirements. It expands the types of organizations eligible to apply for grants by prohibiting the consortium from requiring applicants, except for local community organizations, to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to obtain a fiscal sponsor that is tax-exempt. Additionally, the bill establishes provisions for tracking and reporting the progress of grantees, mandating that the consortium hold periodic meetings with grantees and requiring grantees to submit a comprehensive report at the end of the grant period detailing their activities and progress.

Furthermore, the bill enhances accountability measures within grant agreements by requiring the inclusion of specific expectations. These expectations now include a stipulation that grantees must post a statement on their Internet website indicating that their project receives funding from the consortium. The bill aims to improve the quality and accessibility of civic information in New Jersey while fostering collaboration between academic institutions and community organizations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:64-100, 18A:64-101