ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 1535
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JANUARY 9, 1997
The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1535 (1R).
Assembly Bill No. 1535 (1R) appropriates $2.3 million from the "Water Conservation Fund" established pursuant to the "Water Conservation Bond Act," P.L.1969, c.127, to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to acquire, in consultation with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, lands or interests therein in the Highlands area of New Jersey for the purpose of augmenting, increasing, improving, preserving, protecting, or conserving natural water resources and supplies important to New Jersey and facilitating recreational use.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill appropriates $2.3 million from the “Water Conservation Fund” in the following manner: (1) moneys returned due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings involving projects previously funded by law; and (2) moneys previously appropriated pursuant to law to fund projects but for which no moneys have been expended, other than for administrative or program purposes, in the five-year period immediately prior to the date of enactment of the bill, or to fund projects deemed by the DEP as of the date of enactment of the bill to be no longer active, the previous appropriation of which is canceled subject to approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor, except that this provision would not apply to moneys appropriated pursuant to P.L.1995. c.7. That act appropriated $10 million from the "Water Conservation Fund" for use toward the acquisition of lands in Sterling Forest in the State of New York and $1 million for use toward the acquisition of certain lands in the pinelands area of New Jersey.