Bill Text: NJ A4288 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides exemption from DEP permit fees to municipalities after natural disaster involving flooding.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A4288 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4288-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 4288

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 2024

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Assemblyman  AL BARLAS

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Provides exemption from DEP permit fees to municipalities after natural disaster involving flooding.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the payment of environmental permit fees under certain circumstances 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.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, commencing on the effective date of this section, the Department of Environmental Protection shall not charge a fee to any municipality for any permit, approval, or other authorization necessary to construct or repair flood control facilities, or repair damage to roads, buildings, or other structures sustained in the municipality due to a natural disaster involving flooding.

     b.  To be eligible for the fee exemption provided pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the municipality shall demonstrate to the Department of Environmental Protection, in a form and manner as determined by the department, that the permit, approval, or other authorization is necessary to repair damage sustained due to a natural disaster.

     c.  No later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, the department shall publish a notice in the New Jersey Register, and post in a prominent location on the department's Internet website, the form and manner for a municipality to apply for the fee exemption provided pursuant to subsection a. of this section.  The department shall also provide this information to the Department of Community Affairs and shall compile the information for distribution to municipalities following a natural disaster.

 

     2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would not charge any municipality  a fee for any permit, approval, or other authorization necessary to construct or repair flood control facilities, or repair any damage to roads, buildings, or other structures sustained in the municipality due to a natural disaster involving flooding. To be eligible for the fee exemption, the municipality would be required to demonstrate to DEP, in a form and manner as determined by the department, that the permit, approval, or other authorization is necessary to repair damage sustained due to a natural disaster.  The DEP would also circulate the necessary information by:

     1)  publishing a notice in the New Jersey Register;

     2)  posting application information in a prominent location on DEP's Internet website;

     3)  providing the information to the Department of Community Affairs; and

     4)  compiling the information for distribution to municipalities following a natural disaster.