Green, Sumter Bill to Help Communities Transform Idle Hospitals into Newly Productive Health Care Centers Clears Committee

Legislation Would Provide Tax Credits to Help Redevelop Aging/Obsolete Hospitals

(TRENTON) - An Assembly Panel on Thursday approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Jerry Green and Shavonda E. Sumter to help transform ailing or obsolete hospitals into productive healthcare facilities once again.

"Shifts in population, economic pressures and scientific advancement often lead to the construction of new hospital facilities and the closing of older hospitals," said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union).

his is unfortunate for the communities that house these once productive hospitals because they often contribute greatly to local employment and tax revenue. This legislation would aid in repurposing former hospitals health in a positive transition to health centers that can still provide much needed support to the community."

"If we can help transform these former hospitals into centers for the delivery of other health care and support services then we can achieve a win-win for our communities," said Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic). "Barnert Hospital in Paterson is a perfect example of a productive transformation from hospital to community health center. This bill would support transitions such as Barnert's in other areas of the state."

The bill (A-3043) targets facilities that were general hospitals but that have been granted a certificate of need to cease operation as a general hospital. These "qualified health care facilities" can be renovated and redeveloped as a health care and health support services center.
Specifically, the bill would grant corporation business tax credits to developers who make certain capital investments for repurposing qualified health care facilities.

The bill would allow the developer of a repurposed qualified health care facility to qualify for corporation business tax credits equal to 100 percent of the capital investment, if that capital investment is at least $10 million and is applied towards repurposing a facility that will have tenants with a total of 100 or more full-time employees. Annually for ten years the taxpayer may use a credit equal to 10 percent of the qualified capital investment.

The bill was approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and now awaits consideration by the General Assembly.

To read more, please visit the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office Web site.

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