New Jersey Assembly Bill A715

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Provides for payment to small municipalities, in certain cases, of certain penalty moneys assessed for violations of fish and game laws.

Impact

The bill targets small municipalities, defined as those with a permanent population of fewer than 2,000 residents, offering them a share of moneys that would otherwise go entirely to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. This legislative change reflects a shift in recognition that local entities often handle the enforcement of these laws and should be compensated accordingly. The bill also extends this reimbursement provision to violations of federal fish and game laws, ensuring that small municipalities can similarly benefit from court actions related to federal legislation, provided such actions are permissible under federal law.

Summary

Assembly Bill A715 aims to amend existing fish and game law provisions affecting small municipalities in New Jersey by providing them with a financial incentive derived from penalty moneys collected for violations. Specifically, the bill mandates that when a court action in a small municipality results in the collection of penalties for violating state fish and game laws, 50% of those collected penalties must be allocated to the municipality. This is designed to alleviate the financial burden these small municipalities face when adjudicating such violations, recognizing that they often bear these costs with little to no reimbursement.

Contention

Notably, the bill also updates existing legal language. While it retains the classification of certain offenses as a crime of the fourth degree, rather than using the outdated term 'misdemeanor,' it does not alter the penalties associated with non-compliance. This modernization of language aims to clarify the law without impacting the current judicial consequences. Opposition may arise from concerns about the implications for local governance and potential complexities in maintaining compliance across multiple jurisdictions.