32:32-1. Findings, determinations

The States of New York and New Jersey hereby find and determine that:

a. It is desirable, due to the special position of honor that Ellis and Liberty Islands occupy in our national heritage, to avoid conflicts regarding jurisdiction and sovereignty over those islands;

b. It is appropriate in this centennial year of the Statue of Liberty that the States of New York and New Jersey dedicate economic benefits attributable to Liberty and Ellis Islands to a purpose which is representative of the symbolic meaning of the national treasures located on those islands;

c. The homeless, because of the ease of access to interstate transportation and their inherently transient lifestyle, now travel frequently and unimpeded back and forth between the two states;

d. Homelessness is increasingly a regional problem that requires regional solutions, making it necessary and appropriate, therefore, for New York and New Jersey to work cooperatively in developing programs to address this urgent problem;

e. Accordingly, it is appropriate that New York and New Jersey annually dedicate the equivalent of the State and local tax revenues attributable directly to Ellis and Liberty Islands for the purpose of providing assistance to the homeless of New York and New Jersey; and,

f. Moreover, it is appropriate to create a bi-state fund, to receive from each state the sums represented by such state and local tax revenues and to effectuate the goals of the two states with respect to providing assistance to the homeless of New York and New Jersey.

L. 1987, c. 57, s. 1.