New Jersey-2024-A5121-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.