NJ A1854

Mandates a minimum annual appropriation of $10 million from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, beginning July 1 following enactment

Reinstates New Jersey's only state-appropriated, unrestricted funding source for local health departments, which was eliminated in the FY 2011 Appropriations Act

Public Health Priority Funding previously provided local health departments flexibility to address local needs, emerging threats, and other priorities from 1966 to 2010

In FY 2010, Public Health Priority Funding represented approximately 15% of total funding for local health departments before its elimination

Local health departments currently rely solely on local property taxes and restricted state/federal funding designated for specific purposes like vaccines or environmental health services