11. a. The commissioner is authorized to make grants to certified local health agencies for the provision of environmental health services. The commissioner shall prescribe procedures for applying for the grant, and terms and conditions for receiving the grant. The State‘s contribution shall not exceed 50% of the cost of any undertaking for which a grant is made.

b. There is established in the department a non-lapsing environmental health fund that shall consist of all revenues appropriated or otherwise made available for the purpose of making grants on a non-matching basis to certified local health agencies, including such monies from fees, fines and penalties collected by the department in implementing environmental health laws as the department may deposit in the fund. Non-matching grants shall be used by certified local health agencies in the administration or implementation of environmental health laws, or rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for which delegation of program administration has been received, or for implementation of local ordinances adopted in accordance therewith. Non-matching grant monies may be used only for new or for expanding programs, or for development of technical and administrative procedures and protocols, training and personnel development, special projects and equipment, or other similar purposes approved by the commissioner. Non-matching grants made pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to grants made pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

c. Monies in the fund may be used by the commissioner to provide training, equipment or other services to certified local health agencies for the purpose of assisting them in carrying out their responsibilities under P.L.1977, c.443 (C. 26:3A2-21 et seq.).

L.1977,c.443,s.11; amended 1991,c.99,s.6.