Replacing Pool Deck

I am replacing my 30 year old pool deck. I was not the original owner. Home built in Calif in 1987 with pool. Pool pump is bonded as I replaced the pump several years ago and there is a solid 8AWG wire that is buried down along with PVC piping. I did not dig up the entire run but I assume the entire pool cage is also bonded. However, after the deck was removed this past week (deck is also the coping) and digging up the plumping to replace supply/return lines (we had several leaks confirmed with a pressure manifold), I am not seeing any sort of bond grid/wiring around the contour of the pool. I have several sections about 18" down that the piping touching the wall, so I am figuring the bond wiring must be buried in the wall beam tied to the rebar of the pool. My concern was in the in-deck pool light junction box that was present. I knew that was going to have to be removed (light was wire nutted in that and packed with resin). I purchased a new 12v LED universal kit with a 50 foot cord and will run this back to the equipment area (which is 15 feet away and 4 feet above water line). Question is , as I dug up to make the PVC connections, I see a bare copper #8 AWG wire coming up next the conduit and I know that is the wire from the outside of the light niche. However, it is not connected to any exposed rebar. It was actually connected to the metal junction box on the outside. Should I just tie that back to one of the exposed rebar stems with a copper lug? Also, any harm in running a Bond Grid system around the pool before the new deck is poured? We have no metal structures in or around this in-ground gunite pool but if there is a future time when say a hand rail would ever need to be added I would have assurance the pool is bonded.