Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Senator STEVEN V. OROHO
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Stack
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicates $500,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing the Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicating $500,000 annually from certain power vessel operator license fees, and amending P.L.2000, c.175 and P.L.1995, c.401.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 12 of P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-12) is amended to read as follows:
12. a. The “Lake Hopatcong Fund” is established as a nonlapsing, revolving fund in the Department of the Treasury. The fund shall be administered by the Lake Hopatcong Commission, and shall be credited with monies received and dedicated to the fund pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-73) and subsection b. of this section, and with any interest or other investment income earned on monies in the fund. Monies in the fund shall be used to carry out the purposes and objectives of P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-1 et seq.).
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any State or federal funds appropriated, allocated, or designated by law, rule, regulation, or otherwise for the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management, or enhancement of Lake Hopatcong shall be [allocated to the Lake Hopatcong Commission] deposited in the “Lake Hopatcong Fund” for expenditure in furtherance of the purposes and objectives of [this act] P.L.2000, c.175. This section shall not apply to State or federal funds appropriated, allocated, or designated for Lake Hopatcong State Park.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.175, s.12)
2. Section 13 of P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-13) is amended to read as follows:
13. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Lake Hopatcong Commission the sum of $3,000,000 to pay for startup costs and to carry out the purposes and objectives of [this act] P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-1 et seq.) in the first year after the date of enactment of [this act] P.L.2000, c.175, and any unspent monies after that first year shall be carried forward for use by the commission in future years. Each year after the [first year] date of enactment of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the commission shall submit its annual budget request for funds dedicated to the Lake Hopatcong Fund pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-73) and sufficient to carry out the purposes and objectives of [this act] P.L.2000, c.175 as part of the annual budget request submitted by the Department of Environmental Protection to the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, which shall include it in the budget request submitted annually by the Governor for appropriation by the Legislature.
(cf: P.L.2000, c.175, s.13)
3. Section 4 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-73) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. The fee for a 48-month power vessel operator's license required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-72) shall be $18 and shall be paid to the [director for deposit into the State General Fund] Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Of the revenue derived from the fees imposed by this subsection, beginning July 1 following the date of enactment of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the sum of $500,000 shall be annually credited to and deposited in the “Lake Hopatcong Fund” established pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-12) and the remaining revenue shall be deposited into the General Fund.
b. Each New Jersey power vessel operator's license issued pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-72) shall have a digitized color picture of the licensee. In addition to the fee required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the fee for the digitized color picture shall be $6 for each license or renewal.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.391, s.11)
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the “Lake Hopatcong Fund” and dedicate to the fund $500,000 annually from license fees required to operate power boats on nontidal waters. The moneys would be used by the Lake Hopatcong Commission for the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management and enhancement of the lake pursuant to P.L.2000, c.175 (C.58:4B-1 et seq.).