Bill Text: NJ A1305 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes certain requirements for a State entity planting vegetation in certain circumstances; provides for NJ businesses providing such vegetation.**
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-02-05 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [A1305 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A1305-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 1305
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires any State entity planting vegetation to use only vegetation native to area being planted, with some exceptions, and when purchasing vegetation, to purchase, to the maximum extent possible, only from NJ businesses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on June 12, 2014, with amendments.
An Act concerning native vegetation and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
"Plant hardiness zone" means a zone identified as existing in New Jersey pursuant to the most recent edition of the Plant Hardiness Zone Map published by the United States Department of Agriculture.
"State entity" means a department, agency, or office of State government, including a State university or college, or an authority created by the State.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any State entity, when purchasing vegetation for purposes of landscaping, land management, reforestation, or habitat restoration, shall purchase, to the maximum extent possible, from a business located in the State of New Jersey.
3. 1a.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any State entity, when planting vegetation for purposes of 1[landscaping,]1 land management, reforestation, or habitat restoration, shall plant only vegetation identified by the Department of Environmental Protection 1, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and1 pursuant to section 1[4] 51 of this act 1,1 as being native to the particular plant hardiness zone in which the vegetation is being planted.
1b. When planting vegetation for purposes of landscaping, the State entity shall plant vegetation appropriate to the property and location conditions, and shall plant native vegetation to the maximum extent practicable as dictated by consideration of:
(1) commercially viable, economically feasible, and ecologically reasonable plant choices; and
(2) vulnerability of the plants to damage by deer and other wildlife.1
14. The provisions of this act shall not apply to:
a. planting or replacement of annual flowers and plants, sod or turf grass, or plants or trees producing fruits or vegetables;
b. any planting of vegetation in an arboretum or laboratory owned or operated by a State entity; or
c. planting vegetation for educational, experimental or scientific purposes.1
1[4.] 5.1 The Department of Environmental Protection 1, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture,1 shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act, including but not limited to rules and regulations that identify, for each plant hardiness zone, all of the particular species of vegetation that are native to the plant hardiness zone.
1[5. Section] 6. Sections1 3 1and 41 of this act shall take effect 1[on the 180th day] 18 months1 after the date of enactment and the remainder of this act shall take effect immediately.
