A5114 —

2021, c.013 (A5114)CHAPTER Approp.13   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.

  P.L.

2021, CHAPTER 13, approved February 4, 2021 Assembly, No.

5114     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.

  Project                                                                                 Project                                                                                                                                                      Amount       Amount   BOATING & FISHING ACCESS         Access Facilities                                                                                                     $750,000$750,000   CAMPING DEVELOPMENT         Camping, Cabin/Shelter Program                                                                1,500,000       Sanitary Facilities                                                                                             1,500,000   HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS & ACCESS         Habitat Improvements & Access                                                                           750,000750,000   INFRASTRUCTURE         Bridge Repairs                                                                                                    250,000       Building Repairs and Renovations                         Renovations                                                                                              2,000,000       Dam Inspections, Repairs, Removals                                                            1,000,0001,000,000       Health and Life Safety Projects                                                                    3,000,000       Historic Structure Stabilization and Repairs                        Repairs                                                             5,500,000       Recreational Development                                                        Development                                                                                           14,000,000       Road Repairs                                                                                                     1,000,000   IN-HOUSE PROJECTS                                                                                                 500,000500,000   PALISADES INTERSTATE PARK COMMISSION                                             650,000650,000   OTHER       Contingency Fund for Repairs                                                 Repairs                                                                                        2,902,0002,902,000       Administration                                                                                                   1,858,000   TOTAL                                                                                TOTAL                                                                                                                 $37,160,000        c.     Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection e.

    STATEMENT        ThisApproved billFebruary appropriates4, the2021. 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;

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 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.

                                            Appropriates $37.16 million from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for recreation and conservation purposes to DEP for State capital and park development projects.