Posted on: May 26, 2023
The State Health Benefits Program Plan Design Committee met on Wednesday for the regularly scheduled meeting and discussed the following items:
- Potential increase in the contribution amount for High Deductible Health Plans to comply with recent guidance fr...
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Posted on: May 26, 2023
On Thursday, League staff worked the Statehouse and spoke with Assembly representatives before they went into caucus, urging them to support the full restoration of Energy Tax Receipts. Our thanks to East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov, who joined us and sp...
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Posted on: May 19, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed A-4889 this week.
A-4889 eliminates the requirement for local government officers to disclose their property addresses, including their home address, on the Annual Financial Disclosure Statement f...
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Posted on: May 19, 2023
Earlier this week, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM), and the New Jersey Urban Mayor’s Association (NJUMA) issued a letter signed by 401 mayors from across the state urging the State...
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Posted on: May 15, 2023
Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed legislation (S-3090/A-4498) that would permit police and fire employees to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of age, with a retirement benefit of 50% of final compensation. The League joined the New Jersey A...
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Posted on: May 12, 2023
On May 8, Governor Murphy signed into law S-2423/A-3746, which permits local government deferred compensation plans to invest in collective investment trusts. The League supported this legislation that adds collective investments to the types of investmen...
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Posted on: May 12, 2023
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notices 2023-10 extending the CY 2022 Audit deadline to September 29, 2023. This extension applies to counties, calendar year municipalities and all calendar year authorities, including fi...
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Posted on: May 11, 2023
Governor Murphy signed S-435/A-392, which amends P.L.1946, c.138 and P.L.1957, c.183 to authorize local authorities, including sewerage authorities, municipal utilities authorities and county utilities authorities, to distribute live recordings o...
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Posted on: April 28, 2023
On Wednesday night, the House passed Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX) Limit, Save, Grow Act, by a vote of 217-215. The bill, which raises the debt ceiling and includes spending cuts, repeals parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, and imposes...
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Posted on: April 28, 2023
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLFRF) Project & Expenditure Report is due to U.S. Treasury on April 30. We strongly encourage you to file as early as possible. The U.S. Treasury has to process more than 30,000 repo...
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Posted on: April 21, 2023
Earlier this week, the National League of Cities (NLC), the League’s federal partner, hosted a webinar with Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (WA), and Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and J.D. Vance (OH) who, in light of the train derailment and chemical s...
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Posted on: April 21, 2023
On Wednesday, by a vote of 47-49, the U.S. Senate failed to amend S.870, the Fire Grants and Safety Act. The amendments offered by Sen. Scott (FL) would redirect unobligated American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to fund ...
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Posted on: April 14, 2023
On Monday, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 327 to review current practices with the goal of expanding state job opportunities for New Jerseyans without college degrees.
The Order directs the Civil Service Commission to identify job classif...
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Posted on: April 12, 2023
Municipalities that choose to participate in the latest settlement with Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS must submit their signed participation forms by April 18. New Jersey is set to receive up to $508.1 million from the latest settlements, wi...
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Posted on: April 6, 2023
Governor Murphy has signed S-3333, which protects low-income households from having their water services disconnected due to unpaid bills. Water utility providers, including local authorities that have not signed up to participate in New Jerseys Low Incom...
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Posted on: April 5, 2023
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed S-2866, establishing the Elections Transparency Act, into law. This new law aims to increase transparency in political campaign finance and imposes several new requirements on political candidates and commit...
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Posted on: April 4, 2023
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLFRF) Project & Expenditure Report is due to U.S. Treasury on April 30. We strongly encourage you to file as early as possible. The U.S. Treasury has to process more than 30,000 rep...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
Thomas Koeing, Legislative Budget and Finance Officer for the State’s Office of Legislative Services (OLS), provided a budget overview and revenue forecast. Mr. Koeing revealed that the combined state revenues for Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Yea...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
Municipalities that choose to participate in the latest settlement with Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS must submit their signed participation forms by April 18. New Jersey is set to receive up to $508.1 million from the latest settlements, wi...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
On Thursday, the full Assembly unanimously approved A-4498/S-3090, which provides police and fire a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The bill is now before the Governor for his consideration.
The League joins the...
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Posted on: March 31, 2023
Earlier this week, League President and Millstone Borough Mayor Raymond Heck; Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver; Lori Buckelew, NJLM Deputy Executive Director and Director of Government Affairs; and Paul Penna, NJLM Senior Legislative Analyst ...
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Posted on: March 24, 2023
On March 21 the League hosted a League’s Lunch and Learn to discover the benefits of Age-Friendly Community Practices with representatives from the Department of Human Services, including Janet Sharma, Age-Friendly Englewood, Member of the New J...
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Posted on: March 24, 2023
At the March 22 Plan Design Committee (PDC), AON, the actuary for the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC), provided answers to questions PDC members had for the mid-year performance overview of the plan. There was no new information provided from the ...
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Posted on: March 24, 2023
Legislation (A-4998/S-3090) which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age unanimously passed the Senate earlier this week and is before the full Assembly on March 30. The League joins the New ...
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Posted on: March 17, 2023
The Senate Budget committee was scheduled to consider a bill expanding prevailing wage requirements to PILOT projects, however, after outreach by the League and other stakeholders, sponsor Senator Gopal held S-2798 for additional review and possible amend...
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Posted on: March 17, 2023
On Monday Assembly State and Local Government Committee will be considering A-4498, which provides police and fire personnel a retirement allowance after 20 years of service, regardless of age. The League joins the New Jersey Association of Counties in ou...
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Posted on: March 16, 2023
This week, Governor Murphy signed A-4524/S-2709, now P.L.2023, c.22, which permits the appointment of additional alternate deputy registrars. The League supports this legislation because is especially necessary in municipalities that host hospita...
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Posted on: March 10, 2023
On March 9 Governor Murphy signed into law S-3595/A-5177, which changes certain primary election deadlines. The new law took effect immediately.
The deadlines changed include the following:
- Submission by the Municipal Clerk to ...
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Posted on: March 10, 2023
As a reminder, the annual ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Plan (SLFRF) Project and Expenditure (P&E) Report is due on April 30. The portal will open on April 1.
Working with the National League of Cities (NLC), the League’s fed...
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Posted on: March 3, 2023
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has issued a Request for Comments, seeking input from interested parties regarding the conversion of existing streetlights to LED streetlights. Specifically, seeking information related to streetlight and p...
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Posted on: February 27, 2023
Governor Phil Murphy will deliver the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Address on February 28, which follows the State of the State Address in January. The Governor has previously spoken of building the "Next New Jersey," which aims to create an economic...
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Posted on: February 24, 2023
The Division of Local Government Services issued Local Finance Notice 2023-04 announcing one-time exemptions to the appropriation cap for certain items for the Calendar Year 2023/State Fiscal Year 2024 budget and guidance on usage and reporting Opioid Set...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
Unfortunately, as we reported last week, the talks regarding relief for raising healthcare premium costs remain unresolved. This comes among news that Newark, Camden, and Trenton have all left the State Health Benefits system, or are in the process of doi...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
On Thursday, the Assembly voted to approve the recommendations of Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of S-757, after suspending their normal rules to include the bill onto the voting session board list.
The legislation looks to expand au...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
This week, the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed S-3333 for discussion only. While the League agrees that additional efforts are needed to ensure the success of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), we do not agree t...
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Posted on: January 31, 2023
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States! This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that allows New Jerseyans to create a lasting legacy. RevolutionNJ is the formal state initiative for the commemoration of the 250th and a partnership between t...
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Posted on: January 13, 2023
In Governor Murphy’s State of the State address, he revisited the topic of Liquor License reform, which he discussed during his speech of the League Conference in November. The Governor’s proposed plan includes phasing out the populati...
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Posted on: January 10, 2023
Today, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his 2023 State of the State address. This marks the first time in three years that the speech was given in person as the last two addresses were virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his speech, Gov...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
The New Year has come and the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will still have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs, unless an immediate solution i...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed A-573, which makes several changes to the Uniform Construction Code Act (UCC). The bill codifies the three-day construction inspection turnaround and allows for developers to contract with private on-site inspe...
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Posted on: January 9, 2023
In the final week of December, the House and Senate passed, and President Biden signed a $1.7 trillion FY2023 federal budget through September 30, 2023. For provisions of state and local interest, please read the League’s two blog posts, the fir...
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Posted on: December 23, 2022
P.L. 2022, c. 3, which prohibits government dealings with businesses associated with Belarus and Russia, requires the New Jersey Department of Treasury to develop a list of companies it determines engage in prohibited activities associated with Russia or ...
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Posted on: December 5, 2022
State Health Benefits Update
The League continues to work pro-actively and collaboratively with our partners at the NJ Conference of Mayors and NJ Association of Counties to identify a workable plan and means toward a resolution by the Governor and the le...
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Posted on: December 5, 2022
Governor Signs School Security Legislation
On December 1 Governor Murphy signed into law S-2426, which requires public schools and nonpublic schools to submit critical incident mapping data for all schools and school grounds to local law enforcem...
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Posted on: November 11, 2022
Earlier this week, the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) met to consider regular business and appeal requests. During the meeting, SHBC Committee member Dudley Burge asked for an update on and solutions to the 22% cost increase in local government h...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
On October 19 the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) released Local Finance Notice 2022-19 (LFN). The notice reports that municipalities may appropriate funds for use by their volunteer fire companies or boards of fire commissioners in ...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
If you were one of the municipalities that had their sick and vacation time policy reviewed by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) earlier this year and asked to make corrective action by September, we ask you to share your response with the League ...
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Posted on: October 31, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly favorably reported S-2912 which permits police officers to be present at senior residential centers or schools that are used as polling places. The legislation also requires school districts to establish election day sec...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
The comment period for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Draft Tier A Permit renewal closed on September 20. The League in partnership with the New Jersey Conference of Mayors submitted comments focusing on...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Last week, the State Health Benefits Commission adopted the rate increase as proposed in the AON Rate Renewal Report Local Government Employee/Retiree Group and State Employee/Retiree Group. Municipalities in the State Health Benefits Plan will s...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 307, increasing New Jersey’s offshore wind goal by nearly 50% to 11,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040. The Executive Order, which increases the state’s current goal of 7,500 ...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
On Thursday, Governor Murphy issued a conditional veto of S-757. The legislation sought to expand authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The League opposed S-757 as passed by the legislatu...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
On September 22 Governor Murphy signed into law S-1027/A2208, which makes duct cleaning as public work subject to the prevailing wage law. P.L. 2022, c. 113 took effect immediately. Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Dire...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Senators Ruiz and Sarlo have introduced legislation that would expand the State Health Benefits Commission from five members to nine members and add local representation to Commission. S-3033 would add two local government management members, a m...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
Please read the League’s recent blog post for newly announced and application instructions for various competitive federal grants that are available to municipalities. Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ...
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Posted on: September 27, 2022
As Congress prepares to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), municipalities should be aware of a provision that may have a negative impact on their operations through the imposition of a new unfunded mandate. Senators Mark Warner (D-...
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Posted on: August 12, 2022
Last Friday, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1368 requiring all business owners and owners of multifamily rental units to maintain certain levels of liability insurance. In addition, the new law requires that all business owners and owners of m...
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Posted on: August 8, 2022
Friday afternoon, Governor Murphy signed into law S-1368 requiring all business owners and owners of multifamily rental units to maintain certain levels of liability insurance. In addition, the new law requires that all business owners and owners...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
Earlier this week we advised you that the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) was scheduled to meet Monday, July 25, via conference call for its Annual Rate Renewal meeting. The SHBC has removed the rate hike proposal from the July 25 agenda for consi...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
On Thursday, July 21, Governor Murphy signed into law S2742/A4194, establishing a statewide police licensing program and appropriating $6 million to establish the program. Governor Murphy highlighted that with this new law New Jersey would join t...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
As a reminder, the new lead-based paint inspection requirements, pursuant to P.L.2021, c.182, take effect today, July 22, 2022. The law, signed by Governor Murphy last year, imposes an obligation on municipalities to perform or hire a certified l...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced a $45 million expansion of the New Jersey Zero Emission Incentive Program (NJ ZIP), doubling the amount of funding dedicated to the program. NJ ZIP provides vouchers to businesses an...
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Posted on: July 25, 2022
The Division of Local Government Services has issued Local Finance Notice 2022-14, CY 2022/FY 2023 State Aid payment schedule. Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief (CMPTRA), Energy Tax Receipts (ERT), and the Municipal Relief Fund aid ACH d...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
The FY 2023 Budget legislation was favorably released from both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Budget Committee along a party-line vote in both committees on the evening of June 27. The Budget legislation includes an alloc...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
With the FY2023 budget deadline of June 30 fast approaching, Governor Murphy and the State Legislature continue to consider how to use the $6.9 in surplus revenue. Governor Murphy and majority leadership continue to follow their affordability agenda for N...
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Posted on: June 29, 2022
On Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee favorably reported A-4127, which mandates access to periodic cancer screening examinations for firefighters who are not enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). This provides for the approxim...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
NJLM’s Lunch and Learn series continued on June 3 with a briefing featuring Kia King, Director of Policy & External Affairs for the Department of Community Affairs, and Marie Daniels, Program Specialist 2, Regulatory Program, Code Developmen...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
According to statute, the second tranche payment for local governments in areas defined as Metropolitan Cities by U.S. Treasury will be made available no earlier than 12 months after the first tranche. The second tranche payment for localities will occur ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
On June 1 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a Compliance Advisory noting that MS4 Permit Compliance Submissions are past due. DEP’s Division of Water Enforcement is conducting compliance evaluation inspections ...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
The weekend of June 4 while Governor Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Oliver were out of the state on personal business, acting Governor Scutari signed P.L 2022, c.16 allowing for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in pedicabs under the following circum...
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Posted on: June 13, 2022
A-3804/S-330, which would restore distributions to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Municipal Distribution Program (ETR) over two years and require additional funding to be subtracted from the municipal property tax levy, is the fi...
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Posted on: April 19, 2022
On April 12, Governor Murphy signed into law A-2158, which took effect immediately. P.L. 2022, c. 9 permits an existing police chief or fire chief who attains the age of 65 within the next two years to continue serving as chief until the end of t...
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Posted on: December 1, 2020
Dear Elected and Appointed Officials:We would like to take a moment to thank you for attending the League’s 105th Annual Conference, presented virtually in 2020. When the ball dropped last New Year’s Eve, little did we know what lay ahead in 2020, and now...
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Posted on: July 19, 2019
In June, mediators appointed by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) issued three interest arbitration awards. The first interest arbitration awards to be issued since the expiration of the 2% cap. Each of these awards arose out of an impasse...
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