[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1670

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 7, 1996

 

 

By Senators McNAMARA and MARTIN

 

 

An Act appropriating moneys from the "Water Conservation Bond Act," P.L.1969, c.127, for the acquisition of lands or interests therein in the Highlands area for the purpose of augmenting, increasing, improving, preserving, protecting, or conserving natural water resources and supplies important to New Jersey and facilitating recreational uses incidental thereto.

 

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

 

    1. There is appropriated from the "Water Conservation Fund" established pursuant to section 13 of the "Water Conservation Bond Act," P.L.1969, c.127, to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of 1[$2,300,000] 2[$3,300,0001] $2,300,0002 for the acquisition of lands or interests therein in the Highlands area of New Jersey by the department, in consultation with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, for the purpose of augmenting, increasing, improving, preserving, protecting, or conserving natural water resources and supplies important to New Jersey and facilitating recreational uses incidental thereto2, except that no amount of this appropriation shall be expended for the acquisition of lands, or interests therein, located in Sussex County or for the acquisition of lands, or interests therein, from a seller other than a willing seller2.

 

    2. To the extent that the balance of the moneys available in the "Water Conservation Fund" that have not been previously appropriated pursuant to law is insufficient to support the sum appropriated pursuant to section 1 of this act, the following shall be made available from the "Water Conservation Fund" to support the remainder of the appropriation made in that section as required:

    a. moneys returned to the "Water Conservation Fund" due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings involving projects previously funded by law; and

    b. moneys previously appropriated pursuant to law from the "Water Conservation Fund" to fund projects but for which no such moneys have been expended, other than for administrative or program purposes, in the five-year period immediately prior to the date of enactment of this act, or to fund projects deemed by the Department of Environmental Protection as of the date of enactment of this act to be otherwise no longer active, the previous appropriation of which is canceled subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor, except that this subsection shall not apply to moneys appropriated pursuant to P.L.1995, c.7.

 

    3. The expenditure of the sum appropriated from the "Water Conservation Fund" pursuant to section 1 of this act is subject to the provisions and conditions of P.L.1969, c.127, as amended by section 26 of P.L.1979, c.86, and as amended and supplemented by P.L.1981, c.2331.1

 

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

 

Appropriates $2.3 million from 1969 "Water Conservation Bond Act" to acquire lands or interest therein in the Highlands area.