Approp.






P.L. 1997, CHAPTER 283, approved January 6, 1998

Assembly, No. 1466

 

 

 

An Act appropriating $9,000,000 from the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, for the purpose of providing State grants and loans to assist local government units to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands in the coastal area that have been damaged by storms or storm-related flooding.

 

    Be It Enacted by 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 Coastal Blue Acres Trust Fund," established pursuant to section 27 of the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, the sum of $9,000,000 for the purpose of providing State grants and loans to assist local government units to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands in the coastal area that have been damaged by storms or storm-related flooding, as authorized pursuant to subsection a. of section 11 of P.L.1995, c.204. This sum shall include administrative costs.

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would appropriate $9 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204, for the purpose of providing State grants and low-interest loans to assist local government units to acquire, for recreation and conservation purposes, lands along or near the coast that have been damaged by storms or storm-related flooding. This sum represents the entire amount especially authorized by the bond act for post-storm acquisitions in the coastal area under the newly created coastal Blue Acres program. The sum needs to be appropriated as soon as practicable so that DEP and local officials may respond quickly to


acquisition opportunities that may arise after coastal storms. Under this portion of the coastal Blue Acres program, a qualifying local government unit receives a grant of 50% and a low-interest loan of up to 50% of the cost of acquisition of storm-damaged property. Properties may be acquired under the program only from willing sellers. Actual expenditure of any appropriated funds for any particular project requires the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.

 

 

                             

 

Appropriates $9 million from 1995 bond act for grants and loans to local government units to acquire storm-damaged coastal properties under coastal Blue Acres program.