Bill Text: NJ A5014 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs DEP to establish grant program for institutions of higher education to support development of native seeds.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-06-10 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A5014 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A5014-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Directs DEP to establish grant program for institutions of higher education to support development of native seeds.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a native seed grant program and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, and within the limits of monies appropriated for such purposes, shall establish a program to provide grants to institutions of higher education in the State to support the development, and production in needed quantities, of native seeds for use in State land management, roadside landscaping, reforestation, habitat restoration, site remediation, and other purposes as determined by the department. The department may, in its discretion, permit the use of seeds developed under the program for commercial purposes.
b. In establishing the grant program pursuant to this section, the department shall:
(1) develop guidelines and procedures for the submission of grant applications, and criteria for the evaluation of such applications;
(2) establish terms and conditions for the awarding of a grant under this section, and monitor grant recipients' compliance with the terms and conditions;
(3) require the recipient of a grant to report to the department information relating to its use of grant funds and the development of seeds under the program; and
(4) submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, during each year in which a grant is awarded, on the effectiveness of the grant program in assisting with the development of seeds for the purposes stated in subsection a. of this section.
c. The department may, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to establish and implement the grant program.
d. As used in this section, "native seed" means a germinating seed, or other plant part used to propagate a plant, that originates from a plant species that is indigenous to New Jersey.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to support the development, and production in needed quantities, of native seeds for use in State land management, roadside landscaping, reforestation, habitat restoration, site remediation, and other purposes as determined by the DEP. The DEP could, in its discretion, also permit the use of seeds developed under the program for commercial purposes. Implementation of the grant program would be subject to a future appropriation by the Legislature.
