Bill Text: NJ A4959 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Appropriates $53,249,310 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-5)

Status: (Passed) 2022-12-22 - Approved P.L.2022, c.137. [A4959 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4959-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4959

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 5, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Appropriates $53,249,310 from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act appropriating $53,249,310 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and certain administrative expenses.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $40,600,760 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).  Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $207,000 is available due to interest earnings on the dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.

     b.    The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be allocated for the acquisition of lands within the locations of the projects set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10) of this subsection:

 

Project                                  County                  Municipality

 

(1)  CAPE MAY PENINSULA

 

                                                Cape May             Cape May City

                                                                                Cape May Point Boro

                                                                                Dennis Twp

                                                                                Lower Twp

                                                                                Middle Twp

                                                                                Ocean City

                                                                                Sea Isle City

                                                                                Upper Twp

                                                                                West Cape May Boro

                                                                                Woodbine Boro

 

(2)  CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

                                                Bergen                   Bogota Boro

                                                                                Carlstadt Boro

                                                                                East Rutherford Boro

                                                                                Fort Lee Boro

                                                                                Garfield City

                                                                                Hackensack City

                                                                                Hasbrouck Heights Boro

                                                                                Leonia Boro

                                                                                Little Ferry Boro

                                                                                Lodi Boro

                                                                                Lyndhurst Twp

                                                                                Maywood Boro

                                                                                Moonachie Boro

                                                                                New Milford Boro

                                                                                North Arlington Boro

                                                                                Palisades Park Boro

                                                                                Ridgefield Park Village

                                                                                River Edge Boro

                                                                                Rochelle Park Twp

                                                                                Rutherford Boro

                                                                                South Hackensack Twp

                                                                                Teterboro Boro

                                                                                Wallington Boro

                                                                                Wood-Ridge Boro

 

                                                Burlington             Beverly City

                                                                                Bordentown City

                                                                                Bordentown Twp

                                                                                Burlington City

                                                                                Burlington Twp

                                                                                Edgewater Park Twp

                                                                                Fieldsboro Boro

                                                                                Florence Twp

                                                                                Hainesport Twp

                                                                                Mansfield Twp

                                                                                Maple Shade Twp

                                                                                Moorestown Twp

                                                                                Mount Holly Twp

                                                                                Mount Laurel Twp

                                                                                Palmyra Boro

                                                                                Riverside Twp

                                                                                Riverton Boro

                                                                                Springfield Twp

                                                                                Westampton Twp

                                                                                Willingboro Twp

 

                                                Camden                Audubon Boro

                                                                                Audubon Park Boro

                                                                                Brooklawn Boro

                                                                                Camden City

                                                                                Cherry Hill Twp

                                                                                Collingswood Boro

                                                                                Gloucester City

                                                                                Haddon Heights Boro

                                                                                Haddon Twp

                                                                                Haddonfield Boro

                                                                                Merchantville Boro

                                                                                Mount Ephraim Boro

                                                                                Oaklyn Boro

                                                                                Pennsauken Twp

                                                                                Woodlynne Boro

 

                                                Essex                      Belleville Twp

                                                                                Irvington Twp

                                                                                Livingston Twp

                                                                                Maplewood Twp

                                                                                Millburn Twp

                                                                                Newark City

                                                                                Nutley Twp

                                                Gloucester             National Park Boro

                                                                                West Deptford Twp

                                                                                Westville Boro

 

                                                Hunterdon            Delaware Twp

                                                                                East Amwell Twp

                                                                                Flemington Boro

                                                                                Franklin Twp

                                                                                Frenchtown Boro

                                                                                Kingwood Twp

                                                                                Lambertville City

                                                                                Raritan Twp

                                                                                Readington Twp

                                                                                Stockton Boro

                                                                                West Amwell Twp

 

                                                Mercer                   All municipalities

 

                                                Middlesex             All municipalities

 

                                                Monmouth           Aberdeen Twp

                                                                                Allentown Boro

                                                                                Colts Neck Twp

                                                                                Englishtown Boro

                                                                                Freehold Boro

                                                                                Freehold Twp

                                                                                Holmdel Twp

                                                                                Manalapan Twp

                                                                                Marlboro Twp

                                                                                Matawan Boro

                                                                                Millstone Twp

                                                                                Roosevelt Boro

                                                                                Upper Freehold Twp

                                                                                Wall Twp

 

                                                Morris                    Boonton Town

                                                                                Boonton Twp

                                                                                Butler Boro

                                                                                Chatham Boro

                                                                                Chatham Twp

                                                                                Chester Boro

                                                                                Denville Twp

                                                                                Dover Town

                                                                                East Hanover Twp

                                                                                Florham Park Boro

                                                                                Hanover Twp

                                                                                Harding Twp

                                                                                Kinnelon Boro

                                                                                Lincoln Park Boro

                                                                                Long Hill Twp

                                                                                Madison Boro

                                                                                Mendham Boro

                                                                                Mendham Twp

                                                                                Mine Hill Twp

                                                                                Montville Twp

                                                                                Morris Plains Boro

                                                                                Morris Twp

                                                                                Morristown Town

                                                                                Mountain Lakes Boro

                                                                                Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp

                                                                                Pequannock Twp

                                                                                Randolph Twp

                                                                                Riverdale Boro

                                                                                Rockaway Boro

                                                                                Rockaway Twp

                                                                                Victory Gardens Boro

                                                                                Wharton Boro

 

                                                Passaic                   Clifton City

                                                                                Passaic City

 

                                                Somerset               All municipalities

 

                                                Union                     All municipalities

 

(3)  DELAWARE AND RARITAN CANAL GREENWAY

 

                                                Hunterdon            Delaware Twp

                                                                                Kingwood Twp

                                                                                Lambertville City

                                                                                Stockton Boro

                                                                                West Amwell Twp

 

                                                Mercer                   Ewing Twp

                                                                                Hamilton Twp

                                                                                Hopewell Twp

                                                                                Lawrence Twp

                                                                                Princeton Boro

                                                                                Trenton City

 

                                                Middlesex             New Brunswick City

                                                                                Plainsboro Twp

                                                                                South Brunswick Twp

 

                                                Somerset               Franklin Twp

 

(4)  DELAWARE BAY WATERSHED GREENWAY

 

                                                Atlantic                  Buena Boro

                                                                                Buena Vista Twp

 

                                                Cape May             Dennis Twp

                                                                                Lower Twp

                                                                                Middle Twp

                                                                                Upper Twp

 

                                                Cumberland         All municipalities

 

                                                Gloucester             Clayton Boro

                                                                                Elk Twp

                                                                                Franklin Twp

                                                                                Glassboro Boro

                                                                                Monroe Twp

                                                                                Newfield Boro

 

                                                Salem                     Alloway Twp

                                                                                Carneys Point Twp

                                                                                Elmer Boro

                                                                                Elsinboro Twp

                                                                                Lower Alloways Creek Twp

                                                                                Mannington Twp

                                                                                Oldmans Twp

                                                                                Pennsville Twp

                                                                                Pilesgrove Twp

                                                                                Pittsgrove Twp

                                                                                Quinton Twp

                                                                                Upper Pittsgrove Twp

                                                                                Woodstown Boro

 

(5)  DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED GREENWAY

 

                                                Burlington             Bordentown City

                                                                                Bordentown Twp

                                                                                Chesterfield Twp

                                                                                Cinnaminson Twp

                                                                                Delanco Twp

                                                                                Delran Twp

                                                                                Eastampton Twp

                                                                                Hainesport Twp

                                                                                Lumberton Twp

                                                                                Mansfield Twp

                                                                                Medford Twp

                                                                                Moorestown Twp

                                                                                Mount Holly Twp

                                                                                Mount Laurel Twp

                                                                                North Hanover Twp

                                                                                Pemberton Twp

                                                                                Riverside Twp

                                                                                Southampton Twp

                                                                                Springfield Twp

                                                                                Westhampton Twp

                                                                                Willingboro Twp

 

                                                Camden                Berlin Twp

                                                                                Camden City

                                                                                Clementon Boro

                                                                                Gibbsboro Boro

                                                                                Gloucester Twp

                                                                                Haddon Twp

                                                                                Lindenwold Boro

                                                                                Pine Hill Boro

                                                                                Voorhees Twp

 

                                                Gloucester             Deptford Twp

                                                                                East Greenwich Twp

                                                                                Elk Twp

                                                                                Greenwich Twp

                                                                                Harrison Twp

                                                                                Logan Twp

                                                                                National Park Boro

                                                                                South Harrison Twp

                                                                                Westville Boro

                                                                                Woolwich Twp

                                                                                West Deptford Twp

                                                Hunterdon            Alexandria Twp

                                                                                Delaware Twp

                                                                                Frenchtown Boro

                                                                                Kingwood Twp

                                                                                Lambertville City

                                                                                Stockton Boro

                                                                                West Amwell Twp

 

                                                Mercer                   Ewing Twp

                                                                                Hamilton Twp

                                                                                Hopewell Twp

                                                                                Robbinsville Twp

                                                                                Trenton City

 

                                                Monmouth           Allentown Boro

                                                                                Millstone Twp

                                                                                Upper Freehold Twp

 

                                                Ocean                    Jackson Twp

                                                                                Plumsted Twp

 

                                                Salem                     Oldmans Twp

                                                                                Pilesgrove Twp

                                                                                Upper Pittsgrove Twp

 

(6)  HIGHLANDS GREENWAY

 

                                                Bergen                   Mahwah Twp

                                                                                Oakland Boro

 

                                                Hunterdon            Alexandria Twp

                                                                                Bethlehem Twp

                                                                                Bloomsbury Boro

                                                                                Califon Boro

                                                                                Clinton Town

                                                                                Clinton Twp

                                                                                Glen Gardner Boro

                                                                                Hampton Boro

                                                                                High Bridge Boro

                                                                                Holland Twp

                                                                                Lebanon Boro

                                                                                Lebanon Twp

                                                                                Milford Boro

                                                                                Tewksbury Twp

                                                                                Union Twp

 

                                                Morris                    Boonton Town

                                                                                Boonton Twp

                                                                                Butler Boro

                                                                                Chester Boro

                                                                                Chester Twp

                                                                                Denville Twp

                                                                                Dover Town

                                                                                Hanover Twp

                                                                                Harding Twp

                                                                                Jefferson Twp

                                                                                Kinnelon Boro

                                                                                Mendham Boro

                                                                                Mendham Twp

                                                                                Mine Hill Twp

                                                                                Montville Twp

                                                                                Morris Plains Boro

                                                                                Morris Twp

                                                                                Morristown Town

                                                                                Mount Arlington Boro

                                                                                Mount Olive Twp

                                                                                Mountain Lakes Boro

                                                                                Netcong Boro

                                                                                Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp

                                                                                Pequannock Twp

                                                                                Randolph Twp

                                                                                Riverdale Boro

                                                                                Rockaway Boro

                                                                                Rockaway Twp

                                                                                Roxbury Twp

                                                                                Victory Gardens Boro

                                                                                Washington Twp

                                                                                Wharton Boro

 

                                                Passaic                   Bloomingdale Boro

                                                                                Pompton Lakes Boro

                                                                                Ringwood Boro

                                                                                Wanaque Boro

                                                                                West Milford Twp

 

                                                Somerset               Bedminster Twp

                                                                                Bernards Twp

                                                                                Bernardsville Boro

                                                                                Far Hills Boro

                                                                                Peapack-Gladstone Boro

 

                                                Sussex                    Byram Twp

                                                                                Franklin Boro

                                                                                Green Twp

                                                                                Hamburg Boro

                                                                                Hardyston Twp

                                                                                Hopatcong Boro

                                                                                Ogdensburg Boro

                                                                                Sparta Twp

                                                                                Stanhope Boro

                                                                                Vernon Twp

 

                                                Warren                   Allamuchy Twp

                                                                                Alpha Boro

                                                                                Belvidere Town

                                                                                Franklin Twp

                                                                                Frelinghuysen Twp

                                                                                Greenwich Twp

                                                                                Hackettstown Town

                                                                                Harmony Twp

                                                                                Hope Twp

                                                                                Independence Twp

                                                                                Liberty Twp

                                                                                Lopatcong Twp

                                                                                Mansfield Twp

                                                                                Oxford Twp

                                                                                Phillipsburg Town

                                                                                Pohatcong Twp

                                                                                Washington Boro

                                                                                Washington Twp

                                                                                White Twp

 

(7)  HISTORIC RESOURCES

 

      Allaire State Park

 

                                                Monmouth           Howell Twp

                                                                                Wall Twp

 

      Fort Mott Officers Quarters

 

                                                Salem                     Pennsville Twp

 

      Griggstown Muletenders Barracks

 

                                                Somerset               Franklin Twp

 

      Historic Sites

 

                                                Burlington             Medford Twp

 

                                                Monmouth           Red Bank Boro

 

      Monmouth Battlefield

 

                                                Monmouth           Freehold Twp

                                                                                Manalapan Twp

 

      New Bridge Landing

 

                                                Bergen                   New Milford Boro

                                                                                River Edge Boro

 

      Princeton Battlefield

 

                                                Mercer                   Princeton Boro

 

      Proprietary House

 

                                                Middlesex             Perth Amboy City

 

      Register Eligible Sites

 

                                                Somerset               Green Brook Twp

                                                                                Watchung Boro

 

      Rockingham Farmstead

 

                                                Somerset               Franklin Twp

 

      Twin Lights

 

                                                Monmouth           Highlands Boro

      Washington Crossing State Park

 

                                                Mercer                   Ewing Twp

                                                                                Hopewell Twp

 

      Waterloo Village

 

                                                Sussex                    Byram Twp

                                                                                Stanhope Boro

 

(8) PINELANDS

 

                                                Atlantic                  Brigantine City

                                                                                Buena Boro

                                                                                Buena Vista Twp

                                                                                Corbin City

                                                                                Egg Harbor City

                                                                                Egg Harbor Twp

                                                                                Estell Manor City

                                                                                Folsom Boro

                                                                                Galloway Twp

                                                                                Hamilton Twp

                                                                                Hammonton Town

                                                                                Mullica Twp

                                                                                Port Republic City

                                                                                Weymouth Twp

 

                                                Burlington             Bass River Twp

                                                                                Evesham Twp

                                                                                Medford Lakes Boro

                                                                                Medford Twp

                                                                                New Hanover Twp

                                                                                North Hanover Twp

                                                                                Pemberton Twp

                                                                                Shamong Twp

                                                                                Southampton Twp

                                                                                Springfield Twp

                                                                                Tabernacle Twp

                                                                                Washington Twp

                                                                                Woodland Twp

                                                                                Wrightstown Boro

 

                                                Camden                Berlin Boro

                                                                                Berlin Twp

                                                                                Chesilhurst Boro

                                                                                Waterford Twp

                                                                                Winslow Twp

 

                                                Cape May             Dennis Twp

                                                                                Middle Twp

                                                                                Upper Twp

                                                                                Woodbine Boro

 

                                                Cumberland         Maurice River Twp

                                                                                Vineland City

 

                                                Gloucester             Franklin Twp

                                                                                Monroe Twp

                                                Ocean                    Barnegat Twp

                                                                                Beachwood Boro

                                                                                Berkeley Twp

                                                                                Eagleswood Twp

                                                                                Jackson Twp

                                                                                Lacey Twp

                                                                                Lakehurst Boro

                                                                                Little Egg Harbor Twp

                                                                                Manchester Twp

                                                                                Ocean Twp

                                                                                Plumsted Twp

                                                                                South Toms River Boro

                                                                                Stafford Twp

                                                                                Toms River Twp

                                                                                Tuckerton Boro

 

(9)  RIDGE AND VALLEY GREENWAY

 

                                                Sussex                    Andover Boro

                                                                                Andover Twp

                                                                                Branchville Boro

                                                                                Frankford Twp

                                                                                Fredon Twp

                                                                                Green Twp

                                                                                Hampton Twp

                                                                                Lafayette Twp

                                                                                Montague Twp

                                                                                Newton Town

                                                                                Sandyston Twp

                                                                                Stillwater Twp

                                                                                Sussex Boro

                                                                                Walpack Twp

                                                                                Wantage Twp

 

                                                Warren                   Blairstown Twp

                                                                                Frelinghuysen Twp

                                                                                Hackettstown Town

                                                                                Hardwick Twp

                                                                                Hope Twp

                                                                                Knowlton Twp

                                                                                Liberty Twp

 

(10)  URBAN PARKS

 

                                                Bergen                   Edgewater Boro

 

                                                Camden                Camden City

 

                                                Essex                      Belleville Twp

                                                                                Bloomfield Twp

                                                                                Caldwell Boro

                                                                                Cedar Grove Twp

                                                                                East Orange City

                                                                                Glen Ridge Boro

                                                                                Irvington Twp

                                                                                Maplewood Twp

                                                                                Montclair Twp

                                                                                Newark City

                                                                                Nutley Twp

                                                                                Orange City Twp

                                                                                South Orange Village Twp

                                                                                West Orange Twp

 

                                                Hudson                  All municipalities

 

                                                Mercer                   Trenton City

 

                                                Middlesex             Edison Twp

 

                                                Monmouth           Long Branch City

 

                                                Passaic                   Paterson City

                                                                                Totowa Boro

 

                                                Union                     Elizabeth City

                                                                                Fanwood Boro

                                                                                Garwood Boro

                                                                                Hillside Twp

                                                                                Linden City

                                                                                Plainfield City

                                                                                Rahway City

                                                                                Roselle Boro

                                                                                Roselle Park Boro

                                                                                Union Twp

                                                                                Winfield Twp

 

TOTAL                                                                                          $40,600,760

 

     c.     The expenditure of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section for any project listed in subsection b. of this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor. 

     d.    To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection b. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any State project that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, established pursuant to the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act," P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for recreation and conservation purposes shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

     For the purposes of this subsection, "Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, and P.L.1989, c.183.

 

     2.    a.   There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $10 million from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for the acquisition, for recreation and conservation purposes, of lands throughout the State that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage.  Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $71,000 is available due to interest earnings on the dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.

     b.    The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be allocated as follows:

 

Project                  County                                  Municipality                              Amount

 

BLUE ACRES                                                                                                   $10,000,000

 

                                Every county                       Every municipality

 

TOTAL                                                                                           $10,000,000

 

     c.     The expenditure of moneys appropriated pursuant to this section is subject to the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).

 

     3.    a.   There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project cancellations or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from this act, any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, established pursuant to the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act," P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for State projects to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purpose of providing additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any State project that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to section 1 of this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.  Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.

     b.    For the purposes of this section, "Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, and P.L.1989, c.183.

 

     4.  There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $2,648,550 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).

 

     5.    There is appropriated from the General Fund to the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), the sum of $53,249,310 to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     6.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill appropriates the sum of $53,249,310 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including for Blue Acres projects, pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). 

     The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014.  The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation.  The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for:  the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.  This bill appropriates moneys for State open space acquisition projects, including for Blue Acres projects. 

     Specifically, this bill appropriates $40,600,760 to the DEP from the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.  This appropriation allocates funding for the acquisition by the State of lands, for recreation and conservation purposes, located throughout the State within the ten project categories identified in section 1 of the bill.  The bill also appropriates $10 million to the DEP to provide funding for the acquisition by the State, for recreation and conservation purposes, of properties throughout the State that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage, i.e., "Blue Acres" projects.  In addition, the bill appropriates $2,648,550 to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act."

     The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act."  P.L.2019, c.136 amended the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to incorporate the purposes of the "Preserve New Jersey Blue Acres Fund" into the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," rather than having two separate funds, both providing moneys to the DEP's Green Acres program for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.  Of the funding allocated for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes by the State, a minimum of 10 percent is to be allocated for Blue Acres projects.

     The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.

     Lastly, the bill authorizes the department to re-distribute certain other moneys made available by project cancellations or cost savings to provide additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded State projects, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.  The bill provides that the additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs.

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