Sandy aid proposal would give dollar estimates to damage victims

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey victims of Superstorm Sandy would get individual estimates of when they can expect to receive rebuilding aid under legislation proposed by the state senate president.

Steve Sweeney says his bill is designed to increase transparency and accountability in New Jersey's delay-plagued effort to get rebuilding aid into the hands of those who need it. It comes nearly 2 ½ years after the storm.

The bill would require the state Community Affairs Department to let people know via a Web site where their aid applications are in the approval process, how much they will receive and when they will get it.

It also sets quarterly goals for aid distribution.

A similar bill proposed by Sweeney, dubbed the "Sandy Bill Of Rights," was vetoed last year by Gov. Chris Christie.