Bill Text: NJ A5121 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)
Status: (Enrolled) 2024-12-19 - Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (38-0) [A5121 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A5121-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
Assemblyman KEVIN P. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues to DEP for State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and Green Acres Program administrative costs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act appropriating $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and certain administrative expenses.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $23,725,000 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for the acquisition of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes in accordance with the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $3,765,000 is available due to interest earnings on the dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.
b. The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be allocated for the acquisition of lands within the locations of the projects set forth in paragraphs (1) through (14) of this subsection:
Project County Municipality
(1) BARNEGAT BAY WATERSHED GREENWAY
Monmouth Freehold Twp
Howell Twp
Ocean Barnegat Twp
Berkeley Twp
Brick Twp
Eagleswood Twp
Jackson Twp
Lacey Twp
Lakewood Twp
Little Egg Harbor Twp
Ocean Twp
Stafford Twp
Toms River Twp
(2) CAPE MAY PENINSULA
Cape May Cape May City
Cape May Point Boro
Dennis Twp
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
Ocean City
Sea Isle City
Upper Twp
West Cape May Boro
West Wildwood Boro
Woodbine Boro
(3) CONNECTING HABITATS ACROSS NEW JERSEY (CHANJ)
Atlantic Absecon City
Atlantic City
Buena Boro
Buena Vista Twp
Egg Harbor City
Egg Harbor Twp
Estell Manor City
Galloway Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hammonton Town
Mullica Twp
Northfield City
Port Republic City
Somers Point City
Bergen Norwood Boro
Rutherford Boro
Burlington Bass River Twp
Bordentown Twp
Burlington City
Burlington Twp
Chesterfield Twp
Eastampton Twp
Evesham Twp
Florence Twp
Hainesport Twp
Lumberton Twp
Mansfield Twp
Medford Twp
Medford Lakes Boro
Mount Laurel Twp
New Hanover Twp
North Hanover Twp
Pemberton Twp
Shamong Twp
Southampton Twp
Springfield Twp
Tabernacle Twp
Westampton Twp
Camden Chesilhurst Boro
Clementon Boro
Gloucester Twp
Pine Hill Boro
Waterford Twp
Winslow Twp
Cape May Dennis Twp
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
Upper Twp
Woodbine Boro
Cumberland Bridgeton City
Commercial Twp
Deerfield Twp
Downe Twp
Fairfield Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Maurice River Twp
Millville City
Stow Creek Twp
Upper Deerfield Twp
Vineland City
Essex Fairfield Twp
Livingston Twp
Gloucester Clayton Boro
East Greenwich Twp
Elk Twp
Franklin Twp
Glassboro Boro
Greenwich Twp
Harrison Twp
Logan Twp
Mantua Twp
Monroe Twp
Newfield Boro
Paulsboro Boro
South Harrison Twp
West Deptford Twp
Woolwich Twp
Hunterdon Alexandria Twp
Bethlehem Twp
Clinton Twp
Delaware Twp
East Amwell Twp
Franklin Twp
Frenchtown Boro
Holland Twp
Kingwood Twp
Lebanon Boro
Lebanon Twp
Milford Boro
Raritan Twp
Readington Twp
Tewksbury Twp
Union Twp
West Amwell Twp
Mercer East Windsor Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Pennington Boro
Princeton Boro
Robbinsville Twp
West Windsor Twp
Middlesex Cranbury Twp
East Brunswick Twp
Middlesex Boro
Milltown Boro
Monroe Twp
New Brunswick City
North Brunswick Twp
Old Bridge Twp
Piscataway Twp
Plainsboro Twp
Sayreville Boro
South Brunswick Twp
Monmouth Aberdeen Twp
Allentown Boro
Colts Neck Twp
Farmingdale Boro
Freehold Twp
Holmdel Twp
Howell Twp
Manalapan Twp
Marlboro Twp
Millstone Twp
Roosevelt Boro
Upper Freehold Twp
Morris Boonton Town
Boonton Twp
Chatham Boro
Chester Boro
Chester Twp
Denville Twp
East Hanover Twp
Florham Park Boro
Hanover Twp
Harding Twp
Jefferson Twp
Kinnelon Boro
Lincoln Park Boro
Mendham Boro
Mendham Twp
Mine Hill Twp
Morris Twp
Mount Arlington Boro
Mount Olive Twp
Netcong Boro
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp
Long Hill Twp
Pequannock Twp
Randolph Twp
Rockaway Boro
Rockaway Twp
Roxbury Twp
Washington Twp
Wharton Boro
Ocean Barnegat Twp
Beachwood Boro
Berkeley Twp
Brick Twp
Toms River Twp
Eagleswood Twp
Jackson Twp
Lakehurst Boro
Lakewood Twp
Little Egg Harbor Twp
Manchester Twp
Ocean Twp
Plumsted Twp
Stafford Twp
Passaic Ringwood Boro
Wayne Twp
West Milford Twp
Salem Alloway Twp
Carneys Point Twp
Elsinboro Twp
Mannington Twp
Oldmans Twp
Pilesgrove Twp
Pittsgrove Twp
Quinton Twp
Salem City
Upper Pittsgrove Twp
Woodstown Boro
Somerset Bedminster Twp
Bernards Twp
Bernardsville Boro
Bound Brook Boro
Branchburg Twp
Bridgewater Twp
Far Hills Boro
Franklin Twp
Green Brook Twp
Hillsborough Twp
Manville Boro
Montgomery Twp
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
Raritan Boro
Rocky Hill Boro
Somerville Boro
Warren Twp
Watchung Boro
Sussex Andover Twp
Branchville Boro
Byram Twp
Frankford Twp
Fredon Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Hardyston Twp
Lafayette Twp
Montague Twp
Newton Town
Ogdensburg Boro
Sandyston Twp
Sparta Twp
Stillwater Twp
Sussex Boro
Vernon Twp
Wantage Twp
Union Berkeley Heights Twp
Warren Allamuchy Twp
Blairstown Twp
Franklin Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hardwick Twp
Harmony Twp
Hope Twp
Independence Twp
Knowlton Twp
Liberty Twp
Mansfield Twp
Washington Twp
White Twp
(4) CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Hunterdon Delaware Twp
East Amwell Twp
Flemington Boro
Franklin Twp
Frenchtown Boro
Kingwood Twp
Lambertville City
Raritan Twp
Readington Twp
Stockton Boro
West Amwell Twp
Mercer East Windsor Twp
Ewing Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hightstown Boro
Hopewell Boro
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Pennington Boro
Princeton Boro
Robbinsville Twp
Trenton City
West
Windsor Twp
Middlesex Cranbury Twp
Monroe Twp
Plainsboro Twp
South Brunswick Twp
Monmouth Allentown Boro
Englishtown Boro
Freehold Twp
Manalapan Twp
Marlboro Twp
Millstone Twp
Roosevelt Boro
Upper Freehold Twp
Morris Chatham Boro
Chatham Twp
Chester Boro
Harding Twp
Long Hill Twp
Madison Boro
Mendham Boro
Mendham Twp
Morris Plains Boro
Morris Twp
Morristown Town
Randolph Twp
Somerset Bedminster Twp
Bernards Twp
Bernardsville Boro
Bound Brook Boro
Branchburg Twp
Bridgewater Twp
Far Hills Boro
Franklin Twp
Green Brook Twp
Hillsborough Twp
Manville Boro
Millstone Boro
Montgomery Twp
North Plainfield Boro
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
Raritan Boro
Rocky Hill Boro
Somerville Boro
South Bound Brook Boro
Warren Twp
Watchung Boro
(5) DELAWARE AND RARITAN CANAL GREENWAY
Hunterdon Delaware Twp
Kingwood Twp
Lambertville City
Stockton Boro
West
Amwell Twp
Mercer Ewing Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Princeton Boro
Trenton City
Middlesex New Brunswick City
Plainsboro Twp
South Brunswick Twp
Somerset Franklin Twp
(6) DELAWARE BAY WATERSHED GREENWAY
Atlantic Buena Boro
Buena Vista Twp
Cape May Dennis Twp
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
Upper Twp
Cumberland Bridgeton City
Commercial Twp
Deerfield Twp
Downe Twp
Fairfield Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Maurice River Twp
Millville City
Shiloh Boro
Stow Creek Twp
Upper Deerfield Twp
Vineland City
Gloucester Clayton Boro
Elk Twp
Franklin Twp
Glassboro Boro
Monroe Twp
Newfield Boro
Salem Alloway Twp
Carneys Point Twp
Elmer Boro
Elsinboro Twp
Lower Alloways Creek Twp
Mannington Twp
Oldmans Twp
Pennsville Twp
Pilesgrove Twp
Pittsgrove Twp
Quinton Twp
Upper Pittsgrove Twp
Woodstown Boro
(7) DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED GREENWAY
Burlington Bordentown City
Bordentown Twp
Chesterfield Twp
Cinnaminson Twp
Delanco Twp
Delran Twp
Eastampton Twp
Hainesport Twp
Lumberton Twp
Mansfield Twp
Medford Twp
Moorestown Twp
Mount Holly Twp
Mount Laurel Twp
North Hanover Twp
Pemberton Twp
Riverside Twp
Southampton Twp
Springfield Twp
Westampton Twp
Willingboro Twp
Camden Berlin Twp
Camden City
Clementon Boro
Gibbsboro Boro
Gloucester Twp
Haddon Twp
Lindenwold Boro
Pine Hill Boro
Voorhees Twp
Gloucester Deptford Twp
East Greenwich Twp
Elk Twp
Greenwich Twp
Harrison Twp
Logan Twp
National Park Boro
South Harrison Twp
West Deptford Twp
Westville Boro
Woolwich Twp
Hunterdon Alexandria Twp
Delaware Twp
Frenchtown Boro
Kingwood Twp
Lambertville City
Stockton Boro
West Amwell Twp
Mercer Ewing Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hopewell Twp
Robbinsville Twp
Trenton City
Monmouth Allentown Boro
Millstone Twp
Upper Freehold Twp
Ocean Jackson Twp
Plumsted Twp
Salem Oldmans Twp
Pilesgrove Twp
Upper Pittsgrove Twp
(8) HIGHLANDS GREENWAY
Bergen Mahwah Twp
Oakland Boro
Hunterdon Alexandria Twp
Bethlehem Twp
Bloomsbury Boro
Califon Boro
Clinton Town
Clinton Twp
Glen Gardner Boro
Hampton Boro
High Bridge Boro
Holland Twp
Lebanon Boro
Lebanon Twp
Milford Boro
Tewksbury Twp
Union Twp
Morris Boonton Town
Boonton Twp
Butler Boro
Chester Boro
Chester Twp
Denville Twp
Dover Town
Hanover Twp
Harding Twp
Jefferson Twp
Kinnelon Boro
Mendham Boro
Mendham Twp
Mine Hill Twp
Montville Twp
Morris Plains Boro
Morris Twp
Morristown Town
Mount Arlington Boro
Mount Olive Twp
Mountain Lakes Boro
Netcong Boro
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp
Pequannock Twp
Randolph Twp
Riverdale Boro
Rockaway Boro
Rockaway Twp
Roxbury Twp
Victory Gardens Boro
Washington Twp
Wharton Boro
Passaic Bloomingdale Boro
Pompton Lakes Boro
Ringwood Boro
Wanaque Boro
West Milford Twp
Somerset Bedminster Twp
Bernards Twp
Bernardsville Boro
Far Hills Boro
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
Sussex Byram Twp
Franklin Boro
Green Twp
Hamburg Boro
Hardyston Twp
Hopatcong Boro
Ogdensburg Boro
Sparta Twp
Stanhope Boro
Vernon Twp
Warren Allamuchy Twp
Alpha Boro
Belvidere Town
Franklin Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hackettstown Town
Harmony Twp
Hope Twp
Independence Twp
Liberty Twp
Lopatcong Twp
Mansfield Twp
Oxford Twp
Phillipsburg Town
Pohatcong Twp
Washington Boro
Washington Twp
White
Twp
(9) HISTORIC RESOURCES
Allaire State Park
Monmouth Howell Twp
Wall Twp
Fort Mott Officers Quarters
Salem Pennsville Twp
Griggstown Muletenders Barracks
Somerset Franklin Twp
Historic Sites
Burlington Medford Twp
Monmouth Battlefield
Monmouth Freehold Twp
Manalapan Twp
New Bridge Landing
Bergen New Milford Boro
River Edge Boro
Princeton Battlefield
Mercer Princeton Boro
Proprietary House
Middlesex Perth Amboy City
Register Eligible Sites
Somerset Green Brook Twp
Watchung Boro
Rockingham Farmstead
Somerset Franklin Twp
Twin Lights
Monmouth Highlands Boro
Washington Crossing State Park
Mercer Ewing Twp
Hopewell
Twp
Waterloo Village
Sussex Byram Twp
Stanhope Boro
(10) NATURAL AREAS
Bill Henry Pond
Atlantic Egg Harbor Twp
Budd Lake Bog
Morris Mount Olive Twp
Campus Swamp
Camden Gloucester Twp
Cheesequake State Park
Middlesex Old Bridge Twp
Crossley Preserve
Ocean Berkeley Twp
Manchester Twp
Five Acre Pond
Atlantic Estell Manor City
Gravel Hill
Hunterdon Holland Twp
Great Piece Meadows/ Troy Meadows
Essex Fairfield Twp
Roseland Boro
West Caldwell Twp
Morris East Hanover Twp
Hanover Twp
Lincoln Park Boro
Montville Twp
Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp
Pequannock Twp
Passaic Wayne Twp
Hamburg Mountain
Sussex Hardyston Twp
Vernon
Twp
Hidden Lake
Camden Gloucester Twp
High Mountain
Passaic North Haledon Boro
Wayne Twp
Limestone Ridge
Warren Blairstown Twp
Long-A-Coming Branch
Camden Winslow Twp
Milford Bluffs
Hunterdon Holland Twp
Mountain Lake Bog
Warren White Twp
Ogdensburg Fen
Sussex Ogdensburg Boro
Oswego River Natural Area
Burlington Washington Twp
Phone-In-Fen
Warren Hardwick Twp
Ramapo Lake Natural Area
Bergen Oakland Boro
Passaic Ringwood Boro
Wanaque Boro
Ramapo Mountain
Bergen Mahwah Twp
Oakland Boro
Passaic Pompton Lakes Boro
Ringwood Boro
Wanaque Boro
Sourland Mountains
Hunterdon East Amwell Twp
West Amwell Twp
Mercer Hopewell
Twp
Somerset Hillsborough Twp
Montgomery Twp
Strawberry Hill
Mercer Hopewell Twp
Sunfish Pond
Warren Hardwick Twp
Sweet Hollow
Hunterdon Alexandria Twp
Holland Twp
Troy Meadows
Morris Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp
Uttertown Bog
Passaic West Milford Twp
Washington Crossing State Park
Mercer Hopewell Twp
Wetlands Habitat/ Bog Turtle
Sussex Frankford Twp
Wantage Twp
Whale Pond
Monmouth Ocean Twp
Woodbine Bogs
Cape May Upper Twp
(11) NON-PROFIT CAMPS
Youth Camps
Bergen Mahwah Twp
Burlington Evesham Twp
Medford Twp
Tabernacle Twp
Cumberland Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Gloucester Franklin Twp
Hunterdon East Amwell Twp
Readington
Twp
Monmouth Wall Twp
Morris Kinnelon Boro
Rockaway Boro
Ocean Ocean Twp
Passaic Ringwood Boro
West Milford Twp
Salem Alloway Twp
Upper Pittsgrove Twp
Somerset Franklin Twp
Sussex Byram Twp
Hampton Twp
Sandyston Twp
Sparta Twp
Stillwater Twp
Vernon Twp
Wantage Twp
Warren Frelinghuysen Twp
Hardwick Twp
Independence Twp
Mansfield Twp
(12) PINELANDS
Atlantic Brigantine City
Buena Boro
Buena Vista Twp
Corbin City
Egg Harbor City
Egg Harbor Twp
Estell Manor City
Folsom Boro
Galloway Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hammonton Town
Mullica Twp
Port Republic City
Weymouth Twp
Burlington Bass River Twp
Evesham Twp
Medford Lakes Boro
Medford Twp
New Hanover Twp
North Hanover Twp
Pemberton Twp
Shamong Twp
Southampton Twp
Springfield Twp
Tabernacle Twp
Washington Twp
Woodland Twp
Wrightstown Boro
Camden Berlin Boro
Berlin Twp
Chesilhurst Boro
Waterford Twp
Winslow Twp
Cape May Dennis Twp
Middle Twp
Upper Twp
Woodbine Boro
Cumberland Maurice River Twp
Vineland City
Gloucester Franklin Twp
Monroe Twp
Ocean Barnegat Twp
Beachwood Boro
Berkeley Twp
Eagleswood Twp
Jackson Twp
Lacey Twp
Lakehurst Boro
Little Egg Harbor Twp
Manchester Twp
Ocean Twp
Plumsted Twp
South Toms River Boro
Stafford Twp
Toms River Twp
Tuckerton Boro
(13) RIDGE AND VALLEY GREENWAY
Sussex Andover Boro
Andover Twp
Branchville Boro
Frankford Twp
Fredon Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Lafayette Twp
Montague Twp
Newton Town
Sandyston Twp
Stillwater Twp
Sussex Boro
Walpack Twp
Wantage Twp
Warren Blairstown Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Hackettstown Town
Hardwick Twp
Hope Twp
Knowlton Twp
Liberty Twp
(14) URBAN PARKS
Atlantic Atlantic City
Pleasantville City
Bergen Bergenfield Boro
Cliffside Park Boro
Edgewater Boro
Garfield City
Hackensack City
Lodi Boro
Burlington Mount Holly Twp
Pemberton Twp
Willingboro Twp
Camden Camden City
Gloucester City
Gloucester Twp
Lindenwold Boro
Pennsauken Twp
Winslow Twp
Cumberland Bridgeton City
Millville City
Vineland City
Essex Belleville Twp
Bloomfield Twp
Caldwell Boro
Cedar Grove Twp
East Orange City
Glen Ridge Boro
Irvington Twp
Maplewood Twp
Montclair Twp
Newark City
Nutley Twp
Orange City Twp
South Orange Village Twp
West Orange Twp
Gloucester Glassboro Boro
Monroe Twp
Paulsboro Boro
Woodbury City
Hudson Bayonne City
East Newark Boro
Guttenberg Town
Harrison Town
Hoboken City
Jersey City
Kearny Town
North Bergen Twp
Union City
Weehawken Twp
West New York Town
Mercer Trenton City
Middlesex Carteret Boro
Edison Twp
New Brunswick City
Old Bridge Twp
Perth Amboy City
Woodbridge Twp
Monmouth Asbury Park City
Long Branch City
Neptune City Boro
Neptune Twp
Ocean Brick Twp
Lakewood Twp
Passaic Clifton City
Passaic City
Paterson City
Totowa Boro
Salem Penns Grove Boro
Salem City
Union Elizabeth City
Fanwood Boro
Garwood Boro
Hillside Twp
Linden City
Plainfield City
Rahway City
Roselle Boro
Roselle Park Boro
Union Twp
Winfield Twp
Warren Phillipsburg Town
TOTAL $23,725,000
c. The expenditure of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section for any project listed in subsection b. of this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.
d. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection b. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any State project that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, established pursuant to the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act," P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for recreation and conservation purposes shall be eligible to receive additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
For the purposes of this subsection, "Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, and P.L.1989, c.183.
2. a. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $23,725,000 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for the acquisition, for recreation and conservation purposes, of lands throughout the State that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage caused by, storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage. Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this subsection, the sum of $3,752,000 is available due to interest earnings on the dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution.
b. The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be allocated as follows:
Project County Municipality Amount
BLUE ACRES $23,725,000
Every county Every municipality
TOTAL $23,725,000
c. The expenditure of moneys appropriated pursuant to this section is subject to the provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
3. a. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project cancellations or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from this act, any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, established pursuant to the "Garden State Preservation Trust Act," P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.), or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for State projects to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purpose of providing additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any State project that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund, or the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" for recreation and conservation purposes or that receives funding approved pursuant to section 1 of this act, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. Any such additional funding provided from a Green Acres bond act may include administrative costs.
b. For the purposes of this section, "Green Acres bond act" means P.L.2009, c.117, P.L.2007, c.119, P.L.1995, c.204, P.L.1992, c.88, and P.L.1989, c.183.
4. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $2,050,000 from dedicated corporation business tax revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution in the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), for paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.). Of the amount appropriated pursuant to this section, $1,025,000 shall be used for the paying administrative costs associated with administering the provisions of section 1 of this act and $1,025,000 shall be used for the paying administrative costs associated with administering the provisions of section 2 of this act.
5. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48), the sum of $41,983,000 to implement the provisions of this act.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill appropriates the sum of $49.5 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including for Blue Acres projects, pursuant to the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
The funding in this bill is provided from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues pursuant to Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 6 of the State Constitution, approved by the voters of the State in November 2014. The "Preserve New Jersey Act" implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The act provides that a certain amount of the portion of dedicated CBT revenues allocated each year for the Green Acres program is to be used for: the acquisition of lands for open space, including Blue Acres projects, and development projects on State lands administered by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry; grants and loans to fund local government open space acquisition and development projects; and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This bill appropriates moneys for State open space acquisition projects, including for Blue Acres projects.
Specifically, this bill appropriates $23.725 million to the DEP to provide funding for the acquisition by the State of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. This appropriation allocates funding for the acquisition by the State of lands, for recreation and conservation purposes, located throughout the State within the 14 project categories identified in section 1 of the bill. The bill also appropriates $23.725 million to the DEP to provide funding for the acquisition by the State, for recreation and conservation purposes, of properties throughout the State that are prone to or have incurred flood or storm damage, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage, i.e., "Blue Acres" projects. In addition, section 3 of the bill appropriates $2.05 million to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." Of the total funds appropriated in the bill, the sum of $7.517 million is available due to interest earnings on the constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues.
The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The "Preserve New Jersey Blue Acres Fund" was established by section 7 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." P.L.2019, c.136 amended the "Preserve New Jersey Act" to incorporate the purposes of the "Preserve New Jersey Blue Acres Fund" into the "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund," rather than having two separate funds, both providing moneys to the DEP for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Of the funding allocated for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes by the State, a minimum of 10 percent is to be allocated for Blue Acres projects.
The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
Lastly, the bill authorizes the department to re-distribute certain other moneys made available by project cancellations or cost savings to provide additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded State projects, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. The bill provides that the additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs.
