CHAPTER 239

 

An Act concerning the conveyance of riparian lands, supplementing chapter 3 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes, and amending P.L.1948, c.448.


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


C.12:3-12.1 Findings, declarations relative to conveyance of riparian lands.

    1. The Legislature finds and declares that the Tidelands Resource Council is the public body responsible for the stewardship of the State's riparian lands; that it is the responsibility of the council to determine whether applications for the lease, license, or grant of riparian lands are in the public interest; that it is the responsibility of the council to determine, in assessing applications for the lease, license, or grant of riparian lands, whether the State may have a future use for such lands; that the council must obtain the fair market value for the lease, license or grant of riparian lands in accordance with court decisions and legal opinions of the Attorney General; and that the substantive policies adopted by the council and information about the roles of the council and the tidelands management program within the Department of Environmental Protection in requiring, reviewing, and processing applications for the lease, license, and grant of riparian lands should be made readily available to the general public and should be provided to those who apply for permission to use riparian lands.


C.12:3-12.2 Development of "Guide to the Tidelands."

    2. The Tidelands Resource Council shall develop an informational guide entitled "Guide to the Tidelands," which shall be written in clear and plain language such that a person possessing a high school degree or its equivalent can understand any information provided in the guide. The council shall provide a copy of the guide to any person expressing an interest in applying for a lease, license or grant of any riparian land and to any other person who requests a copy of the guide. The guide shall contain the following information:

    a. A brief history of the designation of riparian lands in New Jersey as property of the State to be held in the public trust;

    b. The purpose of the Tidelands Resource Council and the tidelands management program within the Department of Environmental Protection, emphasizing the status of mapped riparian lands as property of the State under the stewardship of the Tidelands Resource Council;

    c. A complete listing and explanation of application fees adopted by the council pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.);

    d. An explanation of the process involved in submitting an application to the council, and an explanation of the method by which the council establishes the fair market value of riparian lands, and the consequent price of a lease, license, or grant of such lands;

    e. An explanation of the process by which an applicant for a lease, license, or grant of riparian lands may appeal to the council for a reduction in the price of such lease, license, or grant as established by the council; and

    f. Any information not specified in subsections a. through e. of this section that the council determines will help applicants obtain a clear understanding of the council's role as steward of State-owned riparian lands.


C.12:3-12.3 Rules, regulations setting forth fees; minimum term of conveyance.

    3. The Tidelands Resource Council shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations setting forth all fees imposed by the council, but shall not be required to publish as a rule or regulation any formula or method used to determine the fair market value of a lease, license or grant. All leases and licenses shall be conveyed for a minimum of seven years.


    4. Section 10 of P.L.1948, c.448 (C.13:1B-10) is amended to read as follows:


C.13:1B-10 Tidelands Resource Council.

    10. There shall be within the Department of Environmental Protection a Tidelands Resource Council , which shall consist of 12 members. Each member of the council shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years and shall serve until a successor has been appointed and has qualified.

    At least nine of the council members shall be residents of counties wherein riparian lands are located and have been mapped. A person who is a member of the council on the effective date of P.L.1997, c.239 (C.12:3-12.1 et al.) shall not be removed from the council for failing to meet the aforementioned residency requirements, but may be reappointed by the Governor at the expiration of that term only if that reappointment would comply with the residency requirement for the council set forth in this section.

    Each Governor shall designate one of the members of the council as chairperson and one of the members as vice-chairperson. Any member of the council so designated shall serve as chairperson or vice-chairperson at the pleasure of the Governor designating that member and until a successor has been designated. The chairperson of the council shall be its presiding officer and the vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson in the chairperson's absence.

    Any vacancies in the membership of the council occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the unexpired term only. Any member of the council may be removed from office by the Governor for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard. A member of the council may be removed from office by a majority vote of the membership of the council upon failure of that member to attend three consecutive meetings of the council without good cause.

    The members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.


    5. Section 13 of P.L.1948, c.448 (C.13:1B-13) is amended to read as follows:


C.13:1B-13 Approval of riparian leases, grants.

    13. No action shall be taken by the council except upon the approval of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. No riparian leases or grants shall hereafter be allowed except when approved by at least a majority of the council and signed by the chairperson of the council; and no such leases or grants shall hereafter in any case be allowed except when approved and signed by the Governor and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.


    6. This act shall take effect 180 days following enactment.


    Approved September 5, 1997.