TRENTON, N.J. — New legislation advanced in New Jersey would prohibit local governments from naming public property after groups or lands associated with federally designated foreign terrorist organizations.
Under the bill, municipalities, counties, school districts, and other political subdivisions would be barred from naming roads, bridges, schools, buildings, parks, neighborhoods, or other public property after any group or land linked to a foreign terrorist organization, excluding recognized sovereign nations.
The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, working with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, would be tasked with developing and publishing an official list of foreign terrorist organizations and lands they control. This list would guide local governments in compliance efforts.
Strict compliance and financial penalties outlined
The bill mandates that any existing names or displays of support for foreign terrorist organizations be removed within 30 days of the bill’s enactment. Local governments must also rename any affected property within 90 days so that it no longer bears the name of a foreign terrorist organization.
While the state would reimburse local governments for the costs associated with compliance, the bill establishes financial penalties for noncompliance. If a local government fails to meet the requirements, the State Treasurer is authorized to deduct daily penalties from the local government’s state aid allocation. The daily deduction would equal the total amount of state aid divided by the number of days in the fiscal year.
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The bill also authorizes the Division of Local Government Services, in consultation with the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement its provisions.
The legislation aims to prevent any form of public recognition or display that could be interpreted as supporting foreign terrorist groups.