Approp.
Approp.
P.L. 2024, CHAPTER 37, approved July 10, 2024 Senate, No. 3474
P.L. 2024, CHAPTER 37, approved July 10, 2024
Senate, No. 3474
An Act appropriating $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. For the purposes of this section: "Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19). "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, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354. "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48). "Stewardship activity" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45). b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $9,588,905 from the 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 purpose of providing grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection c. of this section, to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection d. of this section, and to undertake stewardship activities pursuant to subsection e. of this section. c. The following projects for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section: Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount (1) Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Hopewell Valley Park Acq Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Pennington Boro 137,500 (2) Friends of Princeton Open Space Millstone River Watershed Mercer Princeton Boro 140,000 (3) Greater Culver Lake Watershed Conservation Foundation Watershed Protection Program Sussex Frankford Twp 220,000 (4) Hunterdon Land Trust Hunterdon Open Space Plan Priority Areas Hunterdon All municipalities 500,000 (5) New Jersey Conservation Foundation Priority Area Acquisitions Atlantic Buena Vista Twp Egg Harbor City Egg Harbor Twp Estell Manor City Folsom Boro Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Hammonton Town Mullica Twp Weymouth Twp 1,074,300 Burlington Bass River Twp Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran Twp Evesham Twp Fieldsboro Boro Florence Twp Mansfield Twp Medford Twp New Hanover Twp North Hanover Twp Pemberton Twp Shamong Twp Southampton Twp Springfield Twp Tabernacle Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp Camden Camden City Merchantville Boro Pennsauken Twp Cape May Lower Twp Middle Twp Cumberland Fairfield Twp Greenwich Twp Hopewell Twp Maurice River Twp Millville City Stow Creek Twp Upper Deerfield Twp Vineland City Gloucester Franklin Twp Logan Twp South Harrison Twp Woolwich Twp Hunterdon All municipalities Mercer East Windsor Twp Ewing Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Trenton City Princeton Boro Robbinsville Twp West Windsor Twp Middlesex Cranbury Twp Edison Twp Monmouth Allentown Boro Millstone Twp Upper Freehold Twp Morris All municipalities Ocean Lacey Twp Ocean Twp Plumsted Twp Passaic West Milford Twp 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 Somerset Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Branchburg Twp Bridgewater Twp Far Hills Boro Hillsborough Twp Montgomery Twp Peapack-Gladstone Boro Raritan Boro Sussex Andover Twp Byram Twp Frankford Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hopatcong Boro Sparta Twp Vernon Twp Wantage Twp Union Elizabeth City Linden City Springfield Twp Union Twp Warren Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Franklin Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Greenwich Twp Hardwick Twp Harmony Twp Hope Twp Independence Twp Knowlton Twp Liberty Twp Lopatcong Twp Mansfield Twp Oxford Twp Pohatcong Twp Washington Twp White Twp (6) Ridgeview Conservancy Ridgeview Conservancy Acquisitions Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Princeton Boro 290,000 Somerset Montgomery Twp (7) South Jersey Land and Water Trust South Jersey Watersheds Atlantic All municipalities 575,000 Camden All municipalities Cape May All municipalities Cumberland All municipalities Gloucester All municipalities Salem All municipalities (8) Tewksbury Land Trust Land Acquisition Hunterdon Tewksbury Twp 450,000 (9) The Land Conservancy of New Jersey Priority Areas Acq Bergen All municipalities 1,675,000 Essex All municipalities Middlesex All municipalities Morris All municipalities Ocean All municipalities Passaic All municipalities Somerset All municipalities Sussex All municipalities Union All municipalities Warren All municipalities (10) The Nature Conservancy Priority Area Acquisition Atlantic Estell Manor City Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Mullica Twp 500,000 Burlington Bass River Twp Pemberton Boro Pemberton Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp Cape May Cape May City Cape May Point Boro Dennis Twp Lower Twp Middle Twp West Cape May Boro Cumberland Commercial Twp Downe Twp Fairfield Twp Lawrence Twp Maurice River Twp Millville City Vineland City Gloucester Franklin Twp Ocean Barnegat Twp Eagleswood Twp Lacey Twp Little Egg Harbor Twp Ocean Twp Stafford Twp Passaic North Haledon Boro Wayne Twp Salem Pittsgrove Twp Sussex Andover Boro Andover Twp Frankford Twp Fredon Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hardyston Twp Lafayette Twp Montague Twp Newton Town Sandyston Twp Stillwater Twp Walpack Twp Wantage Twp Warren Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Hardwick Twp Hope Twp Knowlton Twp (11) The Watershed Institute Watershed Connectors Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Pennington Boro Princeton Boro 140,000 TOTAL $5,701,800 d. The following projects for the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section: Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount Camden Community Partnership Elijah Perry Park Improvement Phase II Camden Camden City 484,750 Camp Dill Foundation Camp Dill Improvements Hunterdon Clinton Twp 100,000 Essex County Parks Foundation Monte Irvin Orange Park Improvements Essex Orange City Twp 1,405,080 SPARK Friends Inc. Athletic Facility Improvements at Riverfront Essex Newark City 1,588,275 TOTAL $3,578,105 e. The following stewardship activity projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section: Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc. Lambert Tower Historic Landscape Passaic Paterson City 300,000 Harding Land Trust Gatehouse and Primrose Phase 2 Morris Harding Twp 9,000 TOTAL $309,000 f. Any transfer of any funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in subsection c., d., or e. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor. g. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection c., d., or e. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund 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. h. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of: (1) this section; and (2) providing additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, 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. 2. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $479,000 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.). 3. 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 $10,067,905 to implement the provisions of this act. 4. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT The bill appropriates $10,067,905 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $9,588,905 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $479,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs. 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. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." 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 to be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Further, of the funding allocated for acquisition and development projects by nonprofit entities, a certain percentage is to be used to fund stewardship activities undertaken by nonprofit entities. A "stewardship activity" is defined in the "Preserve New Jersey Act" as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $5,701,800 is allocated for 11 acquisition projects; $3,578,105 is allocated for four park development projects; and $309,000 is allocated for two stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill appropriates $479,000 to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust. The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs. Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.
An Act appropriating $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to provide grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of this section:
"Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 19 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-19).
"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, P.L.1989, c.183, P.L.1987, c.265, and P.L.1983, c.354.
"Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-48).
"Stewardship activity" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-45).
b. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $9,588,905 from the 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 purpose of providing grants to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection c. of this section, to develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to subsection d. of this section, and to undertake stewardship activities pursuant to subsection e. of this section.
c. The following projects for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section:
Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount
(1) Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Hopewell Valley Park Acq Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Pennington Boro 137,500
(2) Friends of Princeton Open Space Millstone River Watershed Mercer Princeton Boro 140,000
(3) Greater Culver Lake Watershed Conservation Foundation Watershed Protection Program Sussex Frankford Twp 220,000
(4) Hunterdon Land Trust Hunterdon Open Space Plan Priority Areas Hunterdon All municipalities 500,000
(5) New Jersey Conservation Foundation Priority Area Acquisitions Atlantic Buena Vista Twp Egg Harbor City Egg Harbor Twp Estell Manor City Folsom Boro Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Hammonton Town Mullica Twp Weymouth Twp 1,074,300
Burlington Bass River Twp Beverly City Bordentown City Bordentown Twp Burlington City Burlington Twp Chesterfield Twp Cinnaminson Twp Delanco Twp Delran Twp Evesham Twp Fieldsboro Boro Florence Twp Mansfield Twp Medford Twp New Hanover Twp North Hanover Twp Pemberton Twp Shamong Twp Southampton Twp Springfield Twp Tabernacle Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp
Camden Camden City Merchantville Boro Pennsauken Twp
Cape May Lower Twp Middle Twp
Cumberland Fairfield Twp Greenwich Twp Hopewell Twp Maurice River Twp Millville City Stow Creek Twp Upper Deerfield Twp Vineland City
Gloucester Franklin Twp Logan Twp South Harrison Twp Woolwich Twp
Hunterdon All municipalities
Mercer East Windsor Twp Ewing Twp Hamilton Twp Hightstown Boro Hopewell Twp Lawrence Twp Trenton City Princeton Boro Robbinsville Twp West Windsor Twp
Middlesex Cranbury Twp Edison Twp
Monmouth Allentown Boro Millstone Twp Upper Freehold Twp
Morris All municipalities
Ocean Lacey Twp Ocean Twp Plumsted Twp
Passaic West Milford Twp
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
Somerset Bedminster Twp Bernards Twp Bernardsville Boro Branchburg Twp Bridgewater Twp Far Hills Boro Hillsborough Twp Montgomery Twp Peapack-Gladstone Boro Raritan Boro
Sussex Andover Twp Byram Twp Frankford Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hopatcong Boro Sparta Twp Vernon Twp Wantage Twp
Union Elizabeth City Linden City Springfield Twp Union Twp
Warren Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Franklin Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Greenwich Twp Hardwick Twp Harmony Twp Hope Twp Independence Twp Knowlton Twp Liberty Twp Lopatcong Twp Mansfield Twp Oxford Twp Pohatcong Twp Washington Twp White Twp
(6) Ridgeview Conservancy Ridgeview Conservancy Acquisitions Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Princeton Boro 290,000
Somerset Montgomery Twp
(7) South Jersey Land and Water Trust South Jersey Watersheds Atlantic All municipalities 575,000
Camden All municipalities
Cape May All municipalities
Cumberland All municipalities
Gloucester All municipalities
Salem All municipalities
(8) Tewksbury Land Trust Land Acquisition Hunterdon Tewksbury Twp 450,000
(9) The Land Conservancy of New Jersey Priority Areas Acq Bergen All municipalities 1,675,000
Essex All municipalities
Middlesex All municipalities
Morris All municipalities
Ocean All municipalities
Passaic All municipalities
Somerset All municipalities
Sussex All municipalities
Union All municipalities
Warren All municipalities
(10) The Nature Conservancy Priority Area Acquisition Atlantic Estell Manor City Galloway Twp Hamilton Twp Mullica Twp 500,000
Burlington Bass River Twp Pemberton Boro Pemberton Twp Washington Twp Woodland Twp
Cape May Cape May City Cape May Point Boro Dennis Twp Lower Twp Middle Twp West Cape May Boro
Cumberland Commercial Twp Downe Twp Fairfield Twp Lawrence Twp Maurice River Twp Millville City Vineland City
Gloucester Franklin Twp
Ocean Barnegat Twp Eagleswood Twp Lacey Twp Little Egg Harbor Twp Ocean Twp Stafford Twp
Passaic North Haledon Boro Wayne Twp
Salem Pittsgrove Twp
Sussex Andover Boro Andover Twp Frankford Twp Fredon Twp Green Twp Hampton Twp Hardyston Twp Lafayette Twp Montague Twp Newton Town Sandyston Twp Stillwater Twp Walpack Twp Wantage Twp
Warren Allamuchy Twp Blairstown Twp Frelinghuysen Twp Hardwick Twp Hope Twp Knowlton Twp
(11) The Watershed Institute Watershed Connectors Mercer Hopewell Boro Hopewell Twp Pennington Boro Princeton Boro 140,000
TOTAL $5,701,800
Nonprofit
Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved
Amount
(1) Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space
Hopewell Valley Park Acq
Mercer
Hopewell Boro
Hopewell Twp
Pennington Boro
137,500
(2) Friends of Princeton Open Space
Millstone River Watershed
Mercer
Princeton Boro
140,000
(3) Greater Culver Lake Watershed Conservation Foundation
Watershed Protection Program
Sussex
Frankford Twp
220,000
(4) Hunterdon Land Trust
Hunterdon Open Space Plan Priority Areas
Hunterdon
All municipalities
500,000
(5) New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Priority Area Acquisitions
Atlantic
Buena Vista Twp
Egg Harbor City
Egg Harbor Twp
Estell Manor City
Folsom Boro
Galloway Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hammonton Town
Mullica Twp
Weymouth Twp
1,074,300
Burlington
Bass River Twp
Beverly City
Bordentown City
Bordentown Twp
Burlington City
Burlington Twp
Chesterfield Twp
Cinnaminson Twp
Delanco Twp
Delran Twp
Evesham Twp
Fieldsboro Boro
Florence Twp
Mansfield Twp
Medford Twp
New Hanover Twp
North Hanover Twp
Pemberton Twp
Shamong Twp
Southampton Twp
Springfield Twp
Tabernacle Twp
Washington Twp
Woodland Twp
Camden
Camden City
Merchantville Boro
Pennsauken Twp
Cape May
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
Cumberland
Fairfield Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hopewell Twp
Maurice River Twp
Millville City
Stow Creek Twp
Upper Deerfield Twp
Vineland City
Gloucester
Franklin Twp
Logan Twp
South Harrison Twp
Woolwich Twp
Hunterdon
All municipalities
Mercer
East Windsor Twp
Ewing Twp
Hamilton Twp
Hightstown Boro
Hopewell Twp
Lawrence Twp
Trenton City
Princeton Boro
Robbinsville Twp
West Windsor Twp
Middlesex
Cranbury Twp
Edison Twp
Monmouth
Allentown Boro
Millstone Twp
Upper Freehold Twp
Morris
All municipalities
Ocean
Lacey Twp
Ocean Twp
Plumsted Twp
Passaic
West Milford Twp
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
Somerset
Bedminster Twp
Bernards Twp
Bernardsville Boro
Branchburg Twp
Bridgewater Twp
Far Hills Boro
Hillsborough Twp
Montgomery Twp
Peapack-Gladstone Boro
Raritan Boro
Sussex
Andover Twp
Byram Twp
Frankford Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Hopatcong Boro
Sparta Twp
Vernon Twp
Wantage Twp
Union
Elizabeth City
Linden City
Springfield Twp
Union Twp
Warren
Allamuchy Twp
Blairstown Twp
Franklin Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Greenwich Twp
Hardwick Twp
Harmony Twp
Hope Twp
Independence Twp
Knowlton Twp
Liberty Twp
Lopatcong Twp
Mansfield Twp
Oxford Twp
Pohatcong Twp
Washington Twp
White Twp
(6) Ridgeview Conservancy
Ridgeview Conservancy Acquisitions
Mercer
Hopewell Boro
Hopewell Twp
Princeton Boro
290,000
Somerset
Montgomery Twp
(7) South Jersey Land and Water Trust
South Jersey Watersheds
Atlantic
All municipalities
575,000
Camden
All municipalities
Cape May
All municipalities
Cumberland
All municipalities
Gloucester
All municipalities
Salem
All municipalities
(8) Tewksbury Land Trust
Land Acquisition
Hunterdon
Tewksbury Twp
450,000
(9) The Land Conservancy of New Jersey
Priority Areas Acq
Bergen
All municipalities
1,675,000
Essex
All municipalities
Middlesex
All municipalities
Morris
All municipalities
Ocean
All municipalities
Passaic
All municipalities
Somerset
All municipalities
Sussex
All municipalities
Union
All municipalities
Warren
All municipalities
(10) The Nature Conservancy
Priority Area Acquisition
Atlantic
Estell Manor City
Galloway Twp
Hamilton Twp
Mullica Twp
500,000
Burlington
Bass River Twp
Pemberton Boro
Pemberton Twp
Washington Twp
Woodland Twp
Cape May
Cape May City
Cape May Point Boro
Dennis Twp
Lower Twp
Middle Twp
West Cape May Boro
Cumberland
Commercial Twp
Downe Twp
Fairfield Twp
Lawrence Twp
Maurice River Twp
Millville City
Vineland City
Gloucester
Franklin Twp
Ocean
Barnegat Twp
Eagleswood Twp
Lacey Twp
Little Egg Harbor Twp
Ocean Twp
Stafford Twp
Passaic
North Haledon Boro
Wayne Twp
Salem
Pittsgrove Twp
Sussex
Andover Boro
Andover Twp
Frankford Twp
Fredon Twp
Green Twp
Hampton Twp
Hardyston Twp
Lafayette Twp
Montague Twp
Newton Town
Sandyston Twp
Stillwater Twp
Walpack Twp
Wantage Twp
Warren
Allamuchy Twp
Blairstown Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
Hardwick Twp
Hope Twp
Knowlton Twp
(11) The Watershed Institute
Watershed Connectors
Mercer
Hopewell Boro
Hopewell Twp Pennington Boro Princeton Boro
140,000
TOTAL
$5,701,800
d. The following projects for the development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section:
Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount
Camden Community Partnership Elijah Perry Park Improvement Phase II Camden Camden City 484,750
Camp Dill Foundation Camp Dill Improvements Hunterdon Clinton Twp 100,000
Essex County Parks Foundation Monte Irvin Orange Park Improvements Essex Orange City Twp 1,405,080
SPARK Friends Inc. Athletic Facility Improvements at Riverfront Essex Newark City 1,588,275
TOTAL $3,578,105
Nonprofit Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved Amount
Camden Community Partnership
Elijah Perry Park Improvement Phase II
Camden
Camden City
484,750
Camp Dill Foundation
Camp Dill Improvements
Hunterdon
Clinton Twp
100,000
Essex County Parks Foundation
Monte Irvin Orange Park Improvements
Essex
Orange City Twp
1,405,080
SPARK Friends Inc.
Athletic Facility Improvements at Riverfront
Essex
Newark City
1,588,275
TOTAL
$3,578,105
e. The following stewardship activity projects are eligible for funding with the moneys appropriated pursuant to subsection b. of this section:
Nonprofit Organization Project County Municipality Approved Amount
Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc. Lambert Tower Historic Landscape Passaic Paterson City 300,000
Harding Land Trust Gatehouse and Primrose Phase 2 Morris Harding Twp 9,000
TOTAL $309,000
Nonprofit Organization
Project
County
Municipality
Approved Amount
Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc.
Lambert Tower Historic Landscape
Passaic
Paterson City
300,000
Harding Land Trust
Gatehouse and Primrose Phase 2
Morris
Harding Twp
9,000
TOTAL
$309,000
f. Any transfer of any funds, or change in project sponsor, site, or type, listed in subsection c., d., or e. of this section shall require the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee or its successor.
g. To the extent that moneys remain available after the projects listed in subsection c., d., or e. of this section are offered funding pursuant thereto, any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund 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.
h. There is reappropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the unexpended balances, due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, of the amounts appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund to assist qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, for the purposes of: (1) this section; and (2) providing additional funding, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, to any project of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization that previously received funding appropriated or reappropriated from any Green Acres bond act, any annual appropriations act, or the Garden State Green Acres Preservation Trust Fund for recreation and conservation purposes, 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.
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum of $479,000 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.).
3. 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 $10,067,905 to implement the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill appropriates $10,067,905 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), of which $9,588,905 is to provide grants to various nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and $479,000 is to be used by the DEP for associated administrative costs.
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. The "Preserve New Jersey Act," P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.), implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for open space, farmland, and historic preservation. The "Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund" was established by section 6 of the "Preserve New Jersey Act." 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 to be used to provide grants to nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes. Further, of the funding allocated for acquisition and development projects by nonprofit entities, a certain percentage is to be used to fund stewardship activities undertaken by nonprofit entities. A "stewardship activity" is defined in the "Preserve New Jersey Act" as an activity, which is beyond routine operations and maintenance, undertaken to repair or restore lands acquired or developed for recreation and conservation purposes for the purpose of enhancing or protecting those lands for recreation and conservation purposes.
Of the amount appropriated by the bill to provide grants to various nonprofit entities: $5,701,800 is allocated for 11 acquisition projects; $3,578,105 is allocated for four park development projects; and $309,000 is allocated for two stewardship activity projects. In addition, the bill appropriates $479,000 to the DEP for the purposes of paying administrative costs associated with administering the applicable provisions of the "Preserve New Jersey Act."
The projects listed in the bill have been approved by the DEP and the Garden State Preservation Trust.
The bill also would allow the DEP to re-distribute certain other moneys, which have been returned to the department due to project withdrawals, cancellations, or cost savings, for the purpose of providing additional funding, for recreation and conservation purposes, to previously approved and funded projects of nonprofit entities, subject to the approval of the Joint Budget Oversight Committee. This additional funding, if provided from a Green Acres bond act, may include administrative costs.
Appropriates $10,067,905 to DEP from constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues for grants to certain nonprofit entities to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for certain administrative expenses.