SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4312

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2019

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 4312. 

      This bill would appropriate the sum of $36.143 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 the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation.  The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for:  the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.  This bill appropriates funds for capital and park development projects on State lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry.  The “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” was established by section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act.” 

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