Bill Text: NJ A3111 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires consideration of ecotourism when evaluating and ranking applications by local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-22 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A3111 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-A3111-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 3111

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  RONALD S. DANCER

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires consideration of ecotourism when evaluating and ranking applications by local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning ecotourism and certain lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes, 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.  In addition to the criteria and policies established pursuant to subsection b. of section 24 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-24), when evaluating and ranking projects by local government units and qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for eligibility to receive Green Acres funds, the office shall consider the extent that the project would create or promote ecotourism.

     b.  As used in this section:

     "Constitutionally dedicated moneys" means (1) the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-3), and (2) any moneys made available for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.

     "Green Acres bond act" means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-3).

     "Green Acres funds" means constitutionally dedicated moneys, Green Acres bond act moneys, or other State moneys appropriated to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes.

     "Office" means the Office of Green Acres established by section 24 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-24).

     "Recreation and conservation purposes" means the same as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-3).

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would expand the criteria and policies established for the evaluation and priority ranking by the Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres Program of applications by local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations for eligibility to receive funding from the Green Acres Program for recreation and conservation purposes.  Under this bill, the Green Acres Program would consider whether an application would create or promote ecotourism.  This consideration of the creation or promotion of ecotourism would be in addition to other criteria and policies set forth in law.