Bill Text: NJ A664 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from General Fund to DEP for capital improvements at Allaire State Park.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A664 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A664-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from General Fund to DEP for capital improvements at Allaire State Park.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, P.L.2021, c.133.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2021, c.133, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
42 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
40 Community Development and Environmental Management
42 Natural Resource Management
DIRECT STATE SERVICES
12-4875 Parks Management ............................................... $1,000,000
Total Direct State Services Appropriation,
Natural Resource Management........................ $1,000,000
Direct State Services:
12 Allaire State Park.................................. ($1,000,000)
The amount hereinabove appropriated shall be used to pay for capital improvements at Allaire State Park located in Monmouth County pursuant to section 2 of this act.
2. a. The amount appropriated pursuant to section 1 of this act shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection to prepare a capital improvement plan for Allaire State Park located in Monmouth County and to conduct capital improvement projects at Allaire State Park in accordance with that plan. The capital improvement plan required by this section shall be prepared by the department within 90 days after the effective date of this act and shall be transmitted to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature. The plan shall also be posted on the department's Internet website.
b. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection shall submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature detailing the department's progress in completing capital improvements at Allaire State Park using the amount appropriated for that purpose pursuant to section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to be used for capital improvement projects at Allaire State Park located in Monmouth County.
The amount appropriated by the bill would be used by the DEP to (1) prepare a capital improvement plan for Allaire State Park and (2) conduct capital improvement projects at Allaire State Park in accordance with that plan. The DEP would be required to prepare the capital improvement plan within 90 days after the bill is enacted into law. The bill requires the DEP to transmit the plan to the Governor and the Legislature, and to post it on the DEP's Internet website. In addition, the bill requires the DEP, within one year after the bill is enacted into law, to submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the DEP's progress in completing capital improvements at Allaire State Park using the funds appropriated by the bill.
Allaire State Park is an educational, environmental, and historical jewel. Allaire State Park may be best known for its historic 19th-century iron making town, Allaire Village, and the Pine Creek Railroad, a narrow-gauge train ride. The Manasquan River, which winds through the park, provides excellent opportunities for freshwater fishing and the river's floodplain provides habitat for over 200 species of wildflowers, trees, and plants as well as habitat for birds and other wildlife. Hiking and multi-use trails are throughout the park.
The Historic Village at Allaire is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate and manage the historic property located within Allaire State Park. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park received approximately 450,000 visitors annually, who enjoyed the recreational and cultural facilities provided by the park and historic village. In addition, over 9,000 school students annually visit and participate in the cultural and historical programs offered at Allaire Village. Allaire Village provides cultural and historic programming at the park, including over 60 events annually. This bill will assist the park and the village to continue to protect and enhance its natural resources and historic nature for future generations.
