S3354

An Act appropriating $8,992,898 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and various Green Acres funds to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands 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 following sums for the purpose of providing grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection b. of this section, to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection c. of this section, and to undertake stewardship activities pursuant to subsection d. of this section:

(1) $6,758,000 from the 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” and the unexpended balances in the Diesel Risk Mitigation Fund - Constitutional Dedication account made available for this purpose pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2016, c.10;

(2) $1,244,665 from the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to project cancellations and withdrawals; and

(3) $990,233 from the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” and any Green Acres fund established pursuant to a Green Acres bond act, made available due to interest earnings.

b. The following projects for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section:

Nonprofit Organization	Project	County	Municipality	Approved Amount
(1) Crossroads of the American Revolution Association	National Heritage Area Preservation Project	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	$250,000
		Burlington	Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran 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
		Hudson	East Newark Boro Harrison Town Kearny Town
		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	East Windsor Twp Ewing Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Pennington Boro Princeton Boro Trenton City Washington Twp West Windsor Twp
		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
		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
(2) D & R Greenway Land Trust	Greenway Acq	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	500,000
		Burlington	Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran 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
		Cumberland	Deerfield Twp Fairfield Twp Greenwich Twp Hopewell Twp Stow Creek Twp Upper Deerfield Twp
		Essex	Belleville Twp Irvington Twp Livingston Twp Maplewood Twp Millburn Twp Newark City Nutley Twp
		Gloucester	National Park Boro West Deptford Twp Westville Boro
		Hudson	East Newark Boro Harrison Town Kearny Town
		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	East Windsor Twp Ewing Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Pennington Boro Princeton Boro Robbinsville Twp Trenton City Washington Twp West Windsor Twp
		Middlesex	All municipalities
		Monmouth	Allentown Boro Millstone Twp Upper Freehold Twp
		Salem	Elsinboro Twp Lower Alloways Creek Twp Mannington Twp Pennsville Twp
		Somerset	Branchburg Twp Franklin Twp Hillsborough Twp Montogomery Twp Rocky Hill Boro
(3) Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space	Hopewell Valley Park Acq	Mercer	Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp	250,000
(4) Friends of Princeton Open Space	Millstone River Watershed	Mercer	Princeton Boro	100,000
(5) Fyke Nature Association	Ramapo Mountain Conservation Area	Bergen	Mahwah Twp Oakland Boro	250,000
(6) Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association	2nd Street Park Acq	Atlantic	Hamilton Twp	81,000
(7) Hunterdon Land Trust	Hunterdon Open Space Plan Priority Areas	Hunterdon	All municipalities	250,000
(8) Lamington Conservancy	Central Lamington Project	Hunterdon	Tewksbury Twp	250,000
		Morris	Chester Twp Washington Twp
		Somerset	Bedminster Twp Peapack-Gladstone Boro
(9) Monmouth Conservation Foundation	Open Space Plans 2	Monmouth	All municipalities	250,000
(10) New Jersey Conservation Foundation	Priority Area Acq	Atlantic	Buena Vista Twp Egg Harbor City Egg Harbor Twp Estell Manor City Folsom Boro Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Hammonton Town Mullica Twp Weymouth Twp	500,000
		Burlington	Bass River Twp Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran Twp Evesham Twp Medford Twp New Hanover Twp North Hanover Twp Pemberton Twp Shamong Twp Southampton Twp Tabernacle Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp
		Camden	Camden City Merchantville Boro Pennsauken Twp
		Cape May	Lower Twp Middle Twp
		Cumberland	Fairfield Twp Greenwich Twp Hopewell Twp Millville City Stow Creek Twp Upper Deerfield Twp Vineland City
		Gloucester	Logan Twp South Harrison Twp Woolwich Twp
		Hunterdon	Alexandria Twp Clinton Twp Delaware Twp East Amwell Twp Franklin Twp Frenchtown Boro Holland Twp Kingwood Twp Lambertville City Lebanon Boro Lebanon Twp Milford Boro Raritan Twp Readington Twp Stockton Boro Tewksbury Twp West Amwell Twp
		Mercer	East Windsor Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Trenton City Princeton Boro Robbinsville Twp West Windsor Twp
		Middlesex	Edison Twp
		Monmouth	Allentown Boro Millstone Twp Upper Freehold Twp
		Morris	Boonton Town Boonton Twp Butler Boro Chatham Boro Chatham Twp Chester Boro Chester Twp Denville Twp Dover Town East Hanover Twp Florham Park Boro Hanover Twp Harding Twp Jefferson 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 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
		Ocean	Lacey Twp Ocean Twp
		Passaic	West Milford Twp
		Salem	Alloway Twp Carneys Point Twp Elmer Boro Elsinboro Twp Lower Alloways Creek Twp Mannington Twp Oldmans Twp Pennsville Twp Pilesgrove Twp Pittsgove Twp Quinton Twp Upper Pittsgrove Twp Woodstown Boro
		Somerset	Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Branchburg Twp Bridgewater Twp Far Hills Boro Hillsborough Twp Montgomery Twp Peapack-Gladstone Boro Raritan Boro
		Sussex	Andover Twp Byram Twp Frankford Twp Hampton Twp Hopatcong Boro Sparta Twp Vernon Twp Wantage Twp
		Union	Linden City Springfield Twp Union Twp
		Warren	Franklin Twp Greenwich Twp Harmony Twp Lopatcong Twp Mansfield Twp Pohatcong Twp Washington Twp White Twp
(11) NY-NJ Trail Conference	Green Corridors 2	Bergen	Mahwah Twp	250,000
		Hunterdon	Alexandria Twp Bethlehem Twp Holland Twp Lebanon Boro Lebanon Twp Union Twp
		Morris	Chester Twp Jefferson Twp Morris Twp Mt. Olive Twp Rockaway Boro Rockaway Twp Washington Twp
		Passaic	Ringwood Boro Wanaque Boro West Milford Twp
		Sussex	Byram Twp Green Twp Hopatcong Boro Sparta Twp Vernon Twp
		Warren	Allamuchy Twp Franklin Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Harmony Twp Hope Twp Independence Twp Liberty Twp Lopatcong Twp Mansfield Twp Oxford Twp Washington Twp White Twp
(12) Passaic River Coalition	Passaic River Preservation Project	Bergen	Allendale Boro Elmwood Park Boro Fair Lawn Boro Garfield City Hohokus Boro Lyndhurst Twp Mahwah Twp Oakland Boro Ridgewood Village Rutherford Boro Saddle River Boro Upper Saddle River Boro Wallington Boro	250,000
		Essex	Cedar Grove Twp Fairfield Twp Livingston Twp Newark City Roseland Boro Verona Twp West Caldwell Twp
		Morris	Butler Boro Chatham Boro Chatham Twp Chester Twp Denville Twp East Hanover Twp Florham Park Boro Hanover Twp Jefferson Twp Kinnelon Boro Lincoln Park Boro Long Hill Twp Mendham Boro Mendham Twp Montville Twp Morris Twp Morristown Town Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp Pequannock Twp Riverdale Boro Rockaway Twp
		Passaic	Bloomingdale Boro Clifton City Hawthorne Boro Little Falls Twp Passaic City Paterson City Pompton Lakes Boro Ringwood Boro Totowa Boro Wanaque Boro Wayne Twp West Milford Twp Woodland Park Boro
		Somerset	Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Warren Twp
		Sussex	Hardyston Twp Sparta Twp
		Union	Berkely Heights Twp New Providence Boro Summit City
(13) Rancocas Conservancy	Rancocas Watershed Acq	Burlington	All municipalities	214,000
(14) Raritan Headwaters Association	Raritan Headwaters Acq	Hunterdon	Alexandria Twp Bethlehem Twp Califon Twp Clinton Boro Clinton Twp Delaware Twp East Amwell Twp Franklin Twp Glen Gardener Boro Hampton Twp High Bridge Boro Lebanon Boro Lebanon Twp Raritan Twp Readington Twp Tewksbury Twp Union Twp West Amwell Twp	250,000
		Morris	Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Branchburg Twp Bridgewater Twp Far Hills Boro Flemington Boro Hillsborough Twp Raritan Boro
		Somerset	Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Peapack-Gladstone Boro
(15) Ridge and Valley Conservancy	Open Space Conservation Plan	Sussex	Andover Boro Andover Twp Frankford Twp Fredon Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hardyston Twp LafayetteTwp Sandyston Twp Stillwater Twp Wantage Twp	250,000
		Warren	Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Hardwick Twp Hope Twp Knowlton Twp Mansfield Twp White Twp
(16) Save Hamilton Open Space	Greenways, Trails & Rural Resource Conservation	Mercer	Hamilton Twp	150,000
(17) Tewksbury Land Trust	Land Acq	Hunterdon	Tewksbury Twp	250,000
(18) The Land Conservancy of New Jersey	Priority Areas Acq	Bergen	Franklin Lakes Boro Mahwah Twp Oakland Twp	500,000
		Essex	Bloomfield Twp Caldwell Boro Livingston Twp West Orange Twp
		Middlesex	Woodbridge Twp
		Morris	Boonton Twp Chatham Boro Chatham Twp Denville Twp East Hanover Twp Florham Park Boro Hanover Twp Jefferson Twp Kinnelon Boro Lincoln Park Boro Madison Boro Mine Hill Twp Montville Twp Morris Twp Morristown Town Mount Olive Twp Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp Pequannock Twp Randolph Twp Riverdale Boro Rockaway Twp Roxbury Twp Washington Twp
		Passaic	Ringwood Boro West Milford Twp
		Somerset	Bernardsville Boro Peapack-Gladstone Boro
		Sussex	Andover Boro Andover Twp Byram Twp Frankford Twp Fredon Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hopatcong Boro Lafayette Twp Sparta Twp Stillwater Twp Vernon Twp
		Warren	Allamuchy Twp Franklin Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Greenwich Twp Hardwick Twp Harmony Twp Pohatcong Twp
(19) The Nature Conservancy	Priority Area Acq	Atlantic	Estell Manor City Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Mullica Twp	500,000
		Burlington	Bass River Twp Pemberton Boro Pemberton Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp
		Cape May	Cape May City Cape May Point Boro Dennis Twp Lower Twp Middle Twp West Cape May Boro
		Cumberland	Commercial Twp Downe Twp Fairfield Twp Lawrence Twp Maurice River Twp Millville City Vineland City
		Gloucester	Franklin Twp
		Ocean	Barnegat Twp Eagleswood Twp Lacey Twp Little Egg Harbor Twp Ocean Twp Stafford Twp
		Passaic	North Haledon Boro Wayne Twp
		Salem	Pittsgrove Twp
		Sussex	Andover Boro Andover Twp Frankford Twp Fredon Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hardyston Twp Lafayette Twp Montague Twp Newton Town Sandyston Twp Stillwater Twp Walpack Twp Wantage Twp
		Warren	Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Hardwick Twp Hope Twp
(20) Trust For Public Land	Project Priority Areas	Atlantic	Absecon City Egg Harbor City Egg Harbor Twp Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Linwood City Northfield City Pleasantville City Port Republic City Somers Point City	500,000
		Bergen	All municipalities
		Burlington	All municipalities
		Camden	All municipalities
		Cumberland	All municipalities
		Essex	All municipalities
		Gloucester	All municipalities
		Hudson	All municipalities
		Hunterdon	All municipalities
		Mercer	Hamilton Twp Robbinsville Twp
		Middlesex	Carteret Boro Old Bridge Twp Woodbridge Twp
		Monmouth	Aberdeen Twp Allenhurst Boro Allentown Boro Asbury Park City Atlantic Highlands Boro Avon-By-The-Sea Boro Belmar Boro Bradley Beach Boro Brielle Boro Deal Boro Fair Haven Boro Freehold Boro Freehold Twp Hazlet Twp Highlands Boro Howell Twp Interlaken Boro Keansburg Boro Keyport Boro Loch Arbour Village Long Branch City Manasquan Boro Matawan Boro Middletown Twp Millstown Twp Monmouth Beach Boro Neptune Twp Rumson Boro Sea Bright Boro Sea Girt Boro Spring Lake Boro Spring Lake Heights Boro Union Beach Boro Wall Twp
		Morris	All municipalities
		Ocean	Barnegat Twp Barnegat Light Boro Berkeley Twp Brick Twp Eagleswood Twp Jackson Twp Lacey Twp Lakewood Twp Little Egg Harbor Twp Long Beach Twp Manchester Twp Ocean Twp Plumsted Twp Stafford Twp Toms River Twp Tuckerton Boro
		Passaic	All municipalities
		Salem	All municipalities
		Somerset	All municipalities
		Sussex	All municipalities
		Union	Linden City Rahway City
		Warren	All municipalities
TOTAL				$5,795,000

c. The following projects for the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section:

Nonprofit Organization	Project	County	Municipality	Approved Amount
Brookdale Park Conservancy, Inc.	Brookdale Park Improvement Project	Essex	Bloomfield Twp Montclair Twp	$250,000
Camden Special Services District	North Camden Waterfront Park III	Camden	Camden City	250,000
Congregation Ahavas Sholom	Lincoln Avenue Schoolyard Improvements	Essex	Newark City	250,000
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership	N. Camden Waterfront Park II	Camden	Camden City	250,000
Essex County Parks Foundation	Multi-park Improvements	Essex	Newark City	250,000
Friends of Passaic County Parks	Goffle Brook Park Improvements	Passaic	Hawthorne Boro	200,000
Isles, Inc.	Calhoun St. Park Renovation	Mercer	Trenton City	250,000
Passaic River Rowing Association	Passaic River Rowing Association Boathouse	Bergen	Lyndhurst Twp North Arlington Boro	250,000
United Community Corporation	West Side Park Improvements	Essex	Newark City	250,000
Zoological Society of NJ	TBZ Penguin Exhibit	Essex	West Orange Twp	250,000
TOTAL				$2,450,000

d. The following stewardship activity projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section:

Nonprofit Organization	Project	County	Municipality	Approved Amount
African American Fund of NJ	Ambrose Ward Mansion Grounds Renovation	Essex	East Orange City	$250,000
Friends of Passaic County Parks	Garret Mountain Deer Fence	Passaic	Paterson City Woodland Park Boro	88,500
Friends of Princeton Open Space	Billy Johnson Nature Preserve Restoration	Mercer	Princeton Boro	50,000
Harding Land Trust	Primrose Farm Restoration	Morris	Harding Twp	54,525
Musconetcong Watershed Association	Musconetcong Island Access Project	Hunterdon	Franklin Twp	52,453
New Jersey Conservation Foundation	Preserve Improvements	Mercer Ocean	Hopewell Twp Lacey Twp Ocean Twp	100,020
Tewksbury Land Trust	Fox Hill Stewardship Project	Hunterdon	Tewksbury Twp	98,150
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey	Wildflower Meadow Restoration	Morris	Mount Olive Twp	54,250
TOTAL				$747,898

e. Any transfer of any funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in subsection b., c., or d. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

f. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection b., c., or d. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund 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.

g. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of: (1) this section; and (2) providing additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, 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.

h. For the purposes of this section:

“Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).

“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, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.

“Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).

“Stewardship activity” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).

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), an amount determined by the State Treasurer to be necessary to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

The bill appropriates $8,992,898 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.

Of the total appropriated: $6,758,000 is from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues; $1,244,665 is made available due to project cancellations and withdrawals; and $990,233 is made available from interest earnings. The amounts made available due to project cancellations and withdrawals and interest earnings are from balances in the “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” and various Green Acres funds established pursuant to Green Acres bond acts. Of the amount appropriated by the bill: $5,795,000 is allocated for acquisition projects; $2,450,000 is allocated for park development projects; and $747,898 is allocated for stewardship activity projects.

The CBT revenues appropriated in this bill are provided from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014, including the unexpended balances in the Diesel Risk Mitigation Fund – Constitutional Dedication account made available for these purposes pursuant to P.L.2016, c.10 (i.e., the FY2017 annual appropriations act).

The “Preserve New Jersey Act,” P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), 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 is to be used for State open space acquisition and development projects; 38 percent is to be used for grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and 7 percent is to be used for grants to fund open space acquisition and development projects undertaken by qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations. Further, of the allocated funding for open space acquisition and development projects by qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations, 11 percent is to be used to fund stewardship activities. “Stewardship activity” is defined in the act as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes.

The “Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund” was established by the “Garden State Preservation Trust Act,” and “Green Acres funds” refers to various funds created pursuant to Green Acres bond acts.

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

The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs.