Bill Text: NJ A1447 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides funding to Township of Jefferson and Township of West Milford for tourism promotion and development activities at Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake and requires annual appropriations until Fiscal Year 2034; appropriates $4 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A1447 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1447-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides funding to Township of Jefferson and Township of West Milford for tourism promotion and development activities at Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake and requires annual appropriations until Fiscal Year 2034; appropriates $4 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act appropriating monies from the General Fund to the Department of State for tourism promotion and development activities.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Beginning in fiscal year 2020 and in each fiscal year thereafter prior to fiscal year 2034, there shall be appropriated $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State. Any amounts appropriated to the Department of State pursuant to this section shall be distributed to the Township of Jefferson (Morris County) and shall be expended exclusively for tourism promotion and development activities at Lake Hopatcong.
2. Beginning in fiscal year 2020 and in each fiscal year thereafter prior to fiscal year 2034, there shall be appropriated $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State. Any amounts appropriated to the Department of State pursuant to this section shall be distributed to the Township of West Milford (Passaic County) and shall be expended exclusively for tourism promotion and development activities at Greenwood Lake.
3. There is appropriated $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State for the purposes described in section 1 of this act.
4. There is appropriated $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State for the purposes described in section 2 of this act.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides funding from the General Fund to the Department of State for tourism promotion and development activities. A total of $4,000,000 in shall be appropriated to the Department of State. $2,000,000 shall be distributed to the Township of Jefferson and shall be expended exclusively for tourism promotion and development activities at Lake Hopatcong. $2,000,000 shall be distributed to the Township of West Milford and shall be expended exclusively for tourism promotion and development activities at Greenwood Lake.
Additionally, this bill requires the State to make annual General Fund appropriations of $2 million to the Department of State to be distributed to the Township of Jefferson and the Township of West Milford for the aforementioned purposes in each State fiscal year from Fiscal Year 2020 through Fiscal Year 2033.
Lake Hopatcong is New Jersey's largest freshwater lake offering residents and visitors boating, sailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, water sports and more year-round. Greenwood Lake has long been an attractive vacation spot for tourists offering residents and visitors boating, swimming, water skiing, and fishing during the summer months and ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other uses during the winter months.
Due to the development restrictions placed on the Township of Jefferson and the Township of West Milford by the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," (P.L.2004, c.120) it is difficult to attract businesses and stimulate economic growth. 88 percent of the Township of Jefferson is within the preservation area of the Highlands region, while the entirety of the Township of West Milford is within the preservation area. Tourism is a large sector of the municipalities' local economies because of Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. These appropriations will ensure the continuation and growth in the tourism industry at these two lakes.
Given the location of State-owned properties in or near the Township of Jefferson and the Township of West Milford, it is also within the State's interests to contribute to the tourism efforts at Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. Hopatcong State Park, a 163 acre park, is located at the southwest corner of Lake Hopatcong. In addition to Lake Hopatcong, Hopatcong State Park offers residents and visitors fishing, canoeing, and access to the Morris Canal. Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, a 2,001 acre forest, is located within the Township of West Milford just off the western portion of Greenwood Lake. Abram S. Hewitt State Forest offers residents and visitors access to the Appalachian Trail, various other hiking trails, and cross-country skiing.
