S3229 —

S3229 SEN Statement 12/10/20 SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE   STATEMENT TO   SENATE, No.

3229  STATE OF NEW JERSEY 219th LEGISLATURE   INTRODUCEDDATED: DECEMBER 8, 2020     Sponsored by:

Senator  DECEMBER RICHARD10, J.2020         The Senate Environment and Energy Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No.

CODEY3229.  District      27This (Essexbill appropriates the sum of $37.16 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for capital projects and Morris)park Senator development KRISTINon M.lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife 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;

CORRADO District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)   Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Bateman, Pou and Turner         SYNOPSIS      Appropriates $37.16 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.

   An Act appropriating $37,160,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for the development of lands by the State for recreation and conservation purposes.

       Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

       1.    a.  There is appropriated the sum of $37,160,000 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), to the Department of Environmental Protection for the development 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.).

     b.    The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection a.

of this section shall be allocated as follows:

  Project                                                                                                                        Amount   BOATING & FISHING ACCESS         Access Facilities                                                                                                 $750,000   CAMPING DEVELOPMENT         Camping, Cabin/Shelter Program                                                                1,500,000       Sanitary Facilities                                                                                             1,500,000   HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS & ACCESS         Habitat Improvements & Access                                                                     750,000   INFRASTRUCTURE         Bridge Repairs                                                                                                    250,000       Building Repairs and Renovations                                                              2,000,000       Dam Inspections, Repairs, Removals                                                         1,000,000       Health and Life Safety Projects                                                                    3,000,000       Historic Structure Stabilization and Repairs                                             5,500,000       Recreational Development                                                                           14,000,000       Road Repairs                                                                                                     1,000,000   IN-HOUSE PROJECTS                                                                                           500,000   PALISADES INTERSTATE PARK COMMISSION                                       650,000 OTHER       Contingency Fund for Repairs                                                                     2,902,000       Administration                                                                                                   1,858,000   TOTAL                                                                                                 $37,160,000        c.     Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e.

of section 6 of P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48) or any other law to the contrary, the expenditure of funds pursuant to this section shall not require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.  The department may reallocate funds among the projects identified in subsection b.

of this section, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.  The department shall send written notification of any such reallocation of funds to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, and the Chairs of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, or their respective successor committees.

       2.    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 $37,160,000 to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act.

       3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

    STATEMENT        This bill appropriates the sum of $37.16 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding for capital projects and park development on lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife 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;

and grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes.  This bill appropriates funds for capital and park development projects on State lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry.  The “Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund” was established by section 6 of the “Preserve New Jersey Act.”            The projects and appropriations listed in this bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.