Bill Text: NJ A1592 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs DEP to establish leasing program for State-owned land to be used and managed as pollinator habitat.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-09 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A1592 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1592-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Downey
SYNOPSIS
Directs DEP to establish leasing program for State-owned land to be used and managed as pollinator habitat.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the leasing of State-owned lands for use as pollinator habitat and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection, in accordance with State leasing procedures, shall establish a leasing program for any person, local government unit, nonprofit organization, or other entity that the department determines is qualified and appropriate, to lease, develop, use, and manage any appropriate and suitable State-owned land as pollinator habitat.
b. The department shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, rules and regulations providing for:
(1) the identification of State-owned lands that are appropriate and suitable as pollinator habitat;
(2) criteria for the selection of appropriate entities to lease, develop, use, and manage State-owned land as pollinator habitat; and
(3) any other requirements as the department determines are necessary to implement this act.
c. As used in this section:
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Local government unit" means a county, a municipality, or any board, commission, committee, authority or agency thereof that is subject to the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), including a housing authority or redevelopment agency created or continued under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.).
"Pollinator habitat" means an area of land developed and managed as habitat beneficial for the feeding, nesting, and reproduction of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection in consultation with the Department of Agriculture.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a leasing program for the lease, development, use, and management of appropriate and suitable State-owned land as pollinator habitat by any person, local government unit, nonprofit organization, or other entity that the department determines is qualified and appropriate to manage State-owned land for this purpose. The bill also directs the DEP, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to adopt regulations providing for:
1) the identification of State-owned lands that are appropriate and suitable for management as pollinator habitat; and
2) criteria for the selection of appropriate entities to lease, develop, use, and manage State-owned land for this purpose.
