NJ Governor Phil Murphy signed two bills to provide security funding for non-profit organizations at risk of terror attacks and expand the definition of domestic terrorism following the December 2019 attacks in Jersey City.

 

A6123 supplements the FY2020 Appropriations Act to provide funding towards bolstering security measures at eligible non-profit organizations, while A3087 expands the definition of the crime of terrorism in New Jersey law.

 

“Our state and our nation are facing a rising tide of anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred,” said Governor Murphy. “We recently bore witness to how this can manifest itself in violence, with the attack on our Jewish community in Jersey City. We must stand together against terrorism and recommit to the elimination of hate in all its forms in order to protect New Jerseyans and our country. This legislation is crucial to making it clear that hatred will not be tolerated in our state.”

 

A6123 supplements the FY2020 Appropriations Act by appropriating $1 million to the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness for the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Pilot Program. This program provides funding to eligible nonprofit organizations across New Jersey at the greatest risk of terrorist attacks.

 

Primary sponsors of A6123 include Assembly members Gary Schaer, Annette Quijano, Lisa Swain, and Senate President Sweeney, and Senator Joseph Cryan.

 

A3087 expands the crime of terrorism to include persons who commit certain crimes with the purpose to influence or incite an act of terror against an individual based on the individual’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or creed.  

 

Primary sponsors of A3087 include Assembly members Gary Schaer, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Annette Quijano, and Senators James Beach and Joseph Lagana.