Approp.


P.L. 1996, CHAPTER 107, approved August 28, 1996

Assembly, No. 41

 

 

 

 

 

An Act appropriating $72,313,000 from the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, reappropriating $5,250,000 from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, reappropriating $4,000,000 from the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183, and reappropriating $4,000,000 from the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1983," P.L.1983, c.354, and authorizing the use of unexpended balances, interest earnings, and loan repayments from certain Green Acres bond acts, to assist local government units to acquire and develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes; approving projects of certain local government units in southern New Jersey as eligible for funding with moneys made available from certain Green Acres bond acts; and approving development projects of certain local government units for recreation and conservation purposes in keeping with the requirements, standards, and policies of State and federal law concerning handicapped or disabled persons as eligible for funding with moneys made available from certain Green Acres bond acts.

 

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

 

    1.    There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection from the "1995 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 23 of the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, the sum of $72,313,000, and there is reappropriated to the department from the "1992 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 22 of the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, the sum of $5,250,000, from the "1989 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 19 of the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183, the sum of $4,000,000, and from the "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to section 16 of the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1983," P.L.1983, c.354, the sum of $4,000,000, to provide loans or grants, or both, to assist local government units to acquire and develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, which sums shall include administrative costs, for projects approved as eligible for such funding pursuant to section 5 of this act, section 6 of this act, section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 42 of 1996), section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 43 of 1996), and section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 44 of 1996).

 

    2.    a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated pursuant to P.L.1984, c.224, P.L.1985, c.479, P.L.1986, c.208, P.L.1988, c.23, P.L.1989, c.194, P.L.1991, c.13, P.L.1991, c.14, P.L.1991, c.15, P.L.1991, c.16, P.L.1991, c.522, P.L.1993, c.200, P.L.1993, c.201, P.L.1993, c.266, P.L.1993, c.267, P.L.1994, c.37, P.L.1994, c.45, P.L.1994, c.51, P.L.1994, c.52, P.L.1995, c.199, P.L.1995, c.200, P.L.1995, c.201, P.L.1995, c.202, and P.L.1995, c.203 from the "State Recreation and Conservation Land Acquisition and Development Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres and Recreation Opportunities Bond Act of 1974," P.L.1974, c.102, from the "State Land Acquisition and Development Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1978," P.L.1978, c.118, from the "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1983," P.L.1983, c.354, from the "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres, Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.265, from the "1989 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183, and from the "1992 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, for the purpose of making loans or grants, or both, to local government units for the projects listed in P.L.1984, c.224, P.L.1985, c.479, P.L.1986, c.208, P.L.1988, c.23, P.L.1989, c.194, P.L.1991, c.13, P.L.1991, c.14, P.L.1991, c.15, P.L.1991, c.16, P.L.1991, c.522, P.L.1993, c.200, P.L.1993, c.201, P.L.1993, c.266, P.L.1993, c.267, P.L.1994, c.37, P.L.1994, c.45, P.L.1994, c.51, P.L.1994, c.52, P.L.1995, c.199, P.L.1995, c.200, P.L.1995, c.201, P.L.1995, c.202, P.L.1995, c.203, section 5 of this act, section 6 of this act, section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 42 of 1996), section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 43 of 1996), and section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 44 of 1996), and for the purpose of administrative costs associated with any such projects, to the extent such funds are available as a result of project withdrawals or cost savings.

    b.    There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection such sums as may be or become available on or before June 30, 1997, due to interest earnings or loan repayments, in (1) the "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1983," P.L.1983, c.354, (2) the "Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "New Jersey Green Acres, Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.265, (3) the "1989 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183, (4) the "1992 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, and (5) the "1995 New Jersey Green Trust Fund" established pursuant to the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, for the purpose of making loans or grants, or both, to local government units for the projects listed in P.L.1984, c.224, P.L.1985, c.479, P.L.1986, c.208, P.L.1988, c.23, P.L.1989, c.194, P.L.1991, c.13, P.L.1991, c.14, P.L.1991, c.15, P.L.1991, c.16, P.L.1991, c.522, P.L.1993, c.200, P.L.1993, c.201, P.L.1993, c.266, P.L.1993, c.267, P.L.1994, c.37, P.L.1994, c.45, P.L.1994, c.51, P.L.1994, c.52, P.L.1995, c.199, P.L.1995, c.200, P.L.1995, c.201, P.L.1995, c.202, P.L.1995, c.203, section 5 of this act, section 6 of this act, section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 42 of 1996), section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 43 of 1996), and section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 44 of 1996), and for the purpose of administrative costs associated with any such projects.

 

    3.    Pursuant to the provisions of subsection c. of section 7 of the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, subsection c. of section 7 of the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88, subsection c. of section 9 of the "Open Space Preservation Bond Act of 1989," P.L.1989, c.183, subsection c. of section 9 of the "New Jersey Green Acres, Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1987," P.L.1987, c.265, and subsection d. of section 4 of the "New Jersey Green Acres Bond Act of 1983," P.L.1983, c.354, as appropriate, all loans made to local government units with moneys appropriated or reappropriated pursuant to this act shall bear interest of not more than 2% per year and shall be for a term of not more than 20 years. All principal and interest payments repaid by the local government units shall be deposited into the respective "Green Trust Fund" from which the moneys were appropriated or reappropriated in accordance with the terms of a written loan agreement. The terms of the loan agreement shall be completed and executed on a form approved by the State Treasurer or his designee.

 

    4.    The expenditure of the sums appropriated or reappropriated by this act is subject to the provisions and conditions of P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, P.L.1983, c.354, P.L.1978, c.118, and P.L.1974, c.102, as appropriate.

 

    5.    a. The following projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated or reappropriated pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this act:

 

   Local                           County          Project                   Approved

Government                                                                                    Amount

     Unit

 Absecon City                 Atlantic        Absecon Rec. Ph. II Dev.   $ 500,000

Atlantic County             Atlantic        Absecon Inlet Dev.            $ 500,000

                                                             (in Absecon City)

Atlantic County             Atlantic        Maine Ave. Waterfront      $ 500,000

                                                             Pk. Dev. (in Atlantic City)              

Margate City                  Atlantic        Public Library Pk III Dev.               $ 150,000

Ventnor City                  Atlantic        Boat House Renov. Dev.    $ 500,000

Burlington County         Burlington    Burlington Co. Camps       $1,400,000

                                                            Acq. (in Medford Twp.)

Fieldsboro Boro             Burlington    Riverfront Walkway Dev.               $ 68,000

Florence Twp.                Burlington    Recreation Complex Dev.               $ 500,000

Medford Twp.                Burlington    DiStefano Tract Dev.         $ 500,000

Medford Twp.                Burlington    Burlington Co. Camps       $1,400,000

                                                             Acq.

Pemberton Twp.            Burlington    Presidential Lakes Dev.     $ 400,000

Tabernacle Twp.            Burlington    Patty Bowker Rd. Pk.         $ 150,000

                                                              Dev.

Camden City                  Camden        RU Community Park         $1,000,000

                                                             Dev.

Camden City                  Camden        Childrens Garden Dev.      $1,000,000

Camden County             Camden        Childrens Garden Dev.      $2,000,000

                                                             (in Camden City)

 Gloucester City              Camden        Gloucester Point                  $2,000,000

                                                             Riverfront Dev. 

Lindenwold Boro           Camden        Lindenwold Open                            $ 180,000

                                                              Space Acq.

Merchantville Boro        Camden        Wellwood Park                  $ 150,000

Runnemede Boro           Camden        Runnemede Park Acq.       $ 215,000

Waterford Twp.             Camden        Thomas Richards Acq.       $ 225,000

Woodlynne Boro           Camden        Recreation Complex Dev.               $ 75,000

   Local                           County          Project                   Approved

Government                                                                                    Amount

     Unit

 North Wildwood City    Cape May     Hereford Inlet Fishing        $ 120,000

                                                             Pier Dev.

Bridgeton City               Cumberland  Cohansey Riverfront          $1,600,000

                                                              Plaza Dev.

Bridgeton City               Cumberland  Rivers Edge Park Acq.       $ 157,000

Fairfield Twp.                Cumberland  Twp. Mun. Rec. Center      $ 100,000

                                                             Dev.

Vineland City                Cumberland  Multi Park Improv. Dev.    $ 692,000

Deptford Twp.               Gloucester    Timber Creek Park Acq.    $ 400,000

Woodbury City              Gloucester    Woodbury Crk. Pk.            $ 482,000

                                                       Ph. II Dev.

    b.    Any transfer of any funds or project sponsor, or change in project site, listed in subsection a. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

    c.    To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection a. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, the local government unit projects listed in P.L.1984, c.224, P.L.1985, c.479, P.L.1986, c.208, P.L.1988, c.23, P.L.1989, c.194, P.L.1991, c.13, P.L.1991, c.14, P.L.1991, c.15, P.L.1991, c.16, P.L.1991, c.522, P.L.1993, c.200, P.L.1993, c.201, P.L.1993, c.266, P.L.1993, c.267, P.L.1994, c.37, P.L.1994, c.45, P.L.1994, c.51, P.L.1994, c.52, P.L.1995, c.199, P.L.1995, c.200, P.L.1995, c.201, P.L.1995, c.202, P.L.1995, c.203, section 6 of this act, section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 42 of 1996), section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 43 of 1996), and section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 44 of 1996), shall be eligible for funding or additional funding, including administrative costs, in a sequence consistent with the priority system established by the Department of Environmental Protection, and shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

 

    6.    a. The following handicapped access development projects, which shall be in keeping with the requirements, standards, and policies of State and federal law concerning handicapped or disabled persons, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," 42 U.S.C. §12101 et al., are eligible for funding with monies appropriated or reappropriated pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this act:


Local Government                    County                                       Approved

Unit                                                                                                 Amount

Atlantic County                          Atlantic                                       $127,095

Bergen County                            Bergen                                        $311,988

Burlington County                      Burlington                                   $105,141

Camden County                          Camden                                       $147,248

Cape May County                       Cape May                                   $ 37,316

Cumberland County                    Cumberland                                $ 53,705

Essex County                              Essex                                           $260,962

Gloucester County                      Gloucester                                   $113,144

Hudson County                           Hudson                                       $307,367

Hunterdon County                      Hunterdon                                   $ 46,475

Mercer County                            Mercer                                        $154,626

Middlesex County                      Middlesex                                   $284,739

Monmouth County                      Monmouth                                  $190,364

Morris County                            Morris                                         $152,741

Ocean County                             Ocean                                          $235,711

Passaic County                                    Passaic                                $250,419

Salem County                             Salem                                          $ 29,248

Somerset County                        Somerset                                     $101,073

Sussex County                            Sussex                                         $ 41,351

Union County                             Union                                          $267,013

Warren County                                    Warren                               $ 32,274

    b.    Any transfer of any funds or project sponsor, or change in project site, listed in subsection a. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

    c.    To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection a. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, the local government unit projects listed in P.L.1984, c.224, P.L.1985, c.479, P.L.1986, c.208, P.L.1988, c.23, P.L.1989, c.194, P.L.1991, c.13, P.L.1991, c.14, P.L.1991, c.15, P.L.1991, c.16, P.L.1991, c.522, P.L.1993, c.200, P.L.1993, c.201, P.L.1993, c.266, P.L.1993, c.267, P.L.1994, c.37, P.L.1994, c.45, P.L.1994, c.51, P.L.1994, c.52, P.L.1995, c.199, P.L.1995, c.200, P.L.1995, c.201, P.L.1995, c.202, P.L.1995, c.203, section 5 of this act, section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 42 of 1996), section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 43 of 1996), and section 1 of P.L. , c. (now before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. of 1996 or Assembly Bill No. 44 of 1996), shall be eligible for funding or additional funding, including administrative costs, in a sequence consistent with the priority system established by the Department of Environmental Protection, and shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

 

    7.    This act shall take effect immediately.


STATEMENT

 

    This bill would appropriate $85,563,000 from various Green Acres bond acts to the Department of Environmental Protection to provide low-interest loans or grants, or both, to assist local government units in the State to acquire and develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. The sum appropriated would include administrative costs. The projects for which the appropriation is being made are listed in this bill and three other bills that are part of a legislative package.

    This bill would further authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to use unexpended balances of amounts previously appropriated for local government unit projects pursuant to the 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1992 Green Acres bond acts for the purpose of making low-interest loans or grants, or both, to local government units for projects listed in this bill and in the three other "local government" bills of this legislative package, as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various acts implementing the 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1992 Green Acres bond acts, to the extent such funds are available as a result of project withdrawals or cost savings. Under the bill, the department may also use interest earnings and loan repayments from the 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1995 Green Acres bond acts that become available on or before June 30, 1997 for that purpose.

    This bill would also specifically approve the funding of eligible projects of certain local government units located in southern New Jersey. The total sum of the approved amounts for the southern New Jersey projects is $16,964,000, which includes administrative costs. To the extent that there are funds remaining after those local government unit projects in southern New Jersey listed in this bill are offered funding, the bill also authorizes the department, with the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, to use those funds for local government unit projects listed in the three other "local government" bills of this legislative package as well as for local government unit projects previously approved for funding pursuant to various acts implementing the 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1992 Green Acres bond acts.

    Finally, the bill would specifically approve $3.25 million in funding for eligible Green Acres handicapped access development projects of certain local government units, which projects must be in keeping with the requirements, standards, and policies of State and federal law concerning handicapped or disabled persons, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," 42 U.S.C. §12101 et al.


                             

Appropriates $85.563 million from Green Acres bond acts for local government unit projects; approves funding of Green Acres projects of certain local government units in southern NJ; and approves funding of certain Green Acres handicapped access projects.