SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 328

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MARCH 10, 1997

 

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 328 of 1996.

      Assembly Bill No. 328 approves eighteen farmland preservation projects in northern counties of the State as eligible for funding from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, and from the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183. The funds for these projects will be appropriated in companion legislation (Senate Bill No. 1712 of 1996 and Assembly Bill No. 319 of 1996). The appropriation will provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80% of the cost of acquisition of development easements on farmland, and for up to 100% of the cost of acquisition of development easements under such emergency conditions as the State Agriculture Development Committee determines, in accordance with the provisions of the bond acts.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1710 of 1996 (Inverso/Littell).

 

FISCAL IMPACT

      The funding for the eighteen eligible projects listed in this bill will be appropriated pursuant to companion legislation (Senate Bill No. 1712 of 1996 and Assembly Bill No. 319 of 1996).