31. a. All State departments and agencies, to the extent not inconsistent with law and within budget constraints, shall cooperate with the chief operating officer and respond to requests for such information and assistance as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of P.L.2002, c.43 (C. 52:27BBB-1 et al.).

b. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, during the period of rehabilitation and economic recovery, each State department, agency, or authority shall supersede existing priority setting or ranking systems to place applications from the qualified municipality in the highest priority or ranking category for award or approval of grants, benefits, loans, projects, including highway, roads, sewer and other infrastructure projects or other considerations that would benefit the municipality. This shall be done to the greatest extent possible to benefit the municipality.

L.2002,c.43,s.31.