LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 299

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 18, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 299 (2R) of 1996 requires the Tidelands Resource Council to develop and make available, free of charge, a guide written in plain language that provides various historical information on riparian lands as well as instructions on the application and appeal process and the fees involved. The bill also requires the council, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to adopt rules and regulations that set forth all fees charged by the council, with the exception of the method used to determine the fair market value of riparian land.

      In addition, the bill makes various changes in the council's membership structure and term limits.

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that the cost of producing a document as described in the bill will be approximately $1,000 to $2,000. This amount can be covered by the council's annual budget of $25,000, which allocates funding for printing and training expenses. Hence, no additional funding is anticipated. Also, the DEP staff currently assigned to the council should be able to provide the necessary assistance in developing this document and in promulgating the rules and regulations mandated by the bill.

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.