Approp.
An Act appropriating $12,300,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the development of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes.
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 $12,300,000 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 development 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.).
b. The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be allocated as follows:
Project Amount
BOATING & FISHING ACCESS
Access Facilities $250,000
CAMPING DEVELOPMENT
Camping, Cabin/Shelter Program 1,000,000
Sanitary Facilities 1,000,000
HABITAT ENHANCEMENT & ACCESS
Habitat Improvements & Access 250,000
INFRASTRUCTURE
Bridge Repairs 250,000
Building Repairs and Renovations 1,000,000
Health and Life Safety Projects 2,500,000
High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams:
Inspection, Repair, Removal 1,000,000
Historic Structure Stabilization and Repairs 600,000
Recreational Development 1,250,000
Road Repairs 400,000
IN-HOUSE PROJECTS 1,000,000
OTHER
Contingency Fund for Repairs 1,200,000
Administration 600,000
TOTAL $12,300,000
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e. of section 6 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48) or any other law to the contrary, the expenditure of funds pursuant to this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor. The department may reallocate funds among the projects identified in subsection b. of this section, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. The department shall send written notification of any such reallocation of funds to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, and the Chairs of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, or their respective successor committees.
2. 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 $12,300,000 to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill appropriates the sum of $12.3 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for capital projects and park development on lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife 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, for State fiscal years 2017 through 2019, the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” was established by section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act.”
The act provides that of the 60 percent of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program: 55 percent would be used for State open space acquisition and development projects; 38 percent would be used for grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and 7 percent would be used for grants to fund open space acquisition and development projects undertaken by qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations. Of the funding for State open space acquisition and development projects: 50 percent would be used for acquisition projects and 50 percent would be used for development projects. Further, of the funding for State open space development projects, up to 22 percent would be used for stewardship activities undertaken on lands administered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife and up to 22 percent would be used for stewardship activities undertaken on lands administered by the Division of Parks and Forestry.
The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
Appropriates $12.3 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.