Bill Text: NJ A2395 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Dedicates up to $150,000 annually of fees collected at Island Beach State Park to special fund to be used to support certain park programs, and makes an appropriation from the fund.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [A2395 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A2395-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Dedicates up to $150,000 annually of fees collected at Island Beach State Park to special fund to be used to support certain park programs, and makes an appropriation from the fund.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act dedicating existing fees for certain Island Beach State Park programs, making an appropriation therefrom, 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. There is created in the Department of Environmental Protection a non-lapsing revolving fund to be known as the "Island Beach Interpretive Program Fund," to be held separate and apart from all other funds of the State. Receipts up to $150,000 derived from permit, park pass and parking fees collected at Island Beach State Park shall be deposited in the fund and appropriated annually by the Legislature only for the purposes specified in subsection b. of this section. All interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the fund and any monies that may be appropriated or otherwise become available for the purpose of the fund, shall be credited to and deposited in the fund.
b. Monies in the fund shall be used for the support of interpretation and education programs offered at Island Beach State Park, including, but not limited to, staff salaries related thereto.
2. All monies deposited into the Island Beach Interpretive Program Fund in State Fiscal Year 2016 are appropriated for the purposes specified in section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would dedicate a portion of the revenue realized from permit, parking and other fees collected at Island Beach State Park to the "Island Beach Interpretive Program Fund" created by the bill. The bill provides that this fund would be used to support the interpretative and education programs at the park. The bill also appropriates for these purposes the monies deposited into the fund during State Fiscal Year 2016.
The interpretive and education programs at Island Beach State Park ensure that visitors to the park have an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the park's wildlife and natural resources. For example, the park's natural sand dune formations and relatively undisturbed vegetation provide a natural classroom for the study of a barrier island ecosystem by park visitors. These programs also provide canoe, kayak and walking tours as well as information about the natural history of the island through daily activities throughout the summer, and maintain an herbarium which provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about the many plant communities located within the park.
Currently, all revenues collected at Island Beach State Park are deposited into the Parks General Fund and used to support the entire State park system. This bill would simply earmark up to $150,000 of these revenues to ensure that these interpretive and educational programs have the necessary support to continue providing vital services to the park's visitors.
