N.J. Assembly adds another layer of oversight for federal Sandy relief funds

The New Jersey Assembly has voted to provide additional oversight of Hurricane Sandy recovery and rebuilding projects.

One of the bills requires quarterly reports on Sandy recovery funding and a website to provide detailed information on state contract and grant recipients.

Assembly Budget Committee chairman Vinnie Prieto says another measure authorizes the use of “integrity monitors” who would oversee rebuilding projects to detect potential abuse and fraud.

“People always try to find a way. We’re talking about billions of dollars,” he said. “We want to make sure that something is in place that you don’t get bogus companies or whatever it is that take people for a ride.”

Last week, Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order authorizing the state comptroller to review all Sandy-related contracts. Prieto, D-Hudson, says the Legislature wants to ensure that oversight goes into law so the relief money is properly distributed.

The state Senate has not yet acted on the legislation.