SENATE, No. 3928

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 13, 2019

Sponsored by:

Senator  BOB ANDRZEJCZAK

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes NJ “Landowner of the Year” award program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act establishing the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award program and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.

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

     1.    a.   The Department of Agriculture, in coordination with any agricultural organization as determined appropriate by the Department of Agriculture shall establish and promote an award program to be known as the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award program.

     The program shall annually recognize a landowner who has demonstrated an outstanding record of improving, enhancing, and preserving wildlife populations and habitat on the landowner’s property.

     b.    The Department of Agriculture shall establish, in consultation with the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection and appropriate wildlife organizations, an application procedure, criteria, and guidelines for the eligibility, nomination, and judging of applicants for the award. The criteria may include, but need not be limited to, outstanding practices in wildlife management, habitat improvement, and conservation techniques.

     c.     The Department of Agriculture shall post the name of the recipient of the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award prominently on the department’s website, and shall recognize the recipient with a certificate, a press announcement, or other form of recognition deemed appropriate by the Department of Agriculture to highlight the achievement of the recipient.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill would require the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with any agricultural organization as determined appropriate by the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and appropriate wildlife organizations, to establish and promote an award program to be known as the New Jersey “Landowner of the Year” award program.  The program would annually recognize a landowner who has demonstrated an outstanding record of improving, enhancing, and preserving wildlife populations and habitat on the landowner’s property.  The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture to consult with the Division
of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection when establishing an application procedure, criteria, and guidelines for the eligibility, nomination, and judging of applicants for the award.