Sponsored by:
Senator BOB SMITH
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator JEAN STANFIELD
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes State Treasurer to appoint Garden State Preservation Trust acting executive director under certain conditions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the executive director of the Garden State Preservation Trust and supplementing P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection j. of section 6 of P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-6) to the contrary, when the position of executive director of the trust has been vacant for a period of one year or longer, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture, may appoint an acting executive director who shall work with the members of the trust under the same authority granted to an executive director pursuant to P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.) and P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.).
b. An acting executive director appointed pursuant to this section shall serve for a minimum of one year at an annual expense set by the State Treasurer not to exceed $150,000, without regard to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes; provided, however, that the trust shall retain all other oversight authority over the acting executive director.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture, to appoint an acting executive director for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) under certain conditions. Specifically, the bill would apply when the position of executive director has remained vacant for a period of one year or longer. An acting executive director appointed pursuant to the bill would serve for a minimum of one year, at an annual expense not to exceed $150,000, as established by the State Treasurer. The GSPT would retain all other oversight authority over the acting executive director.
The position of GSPT executive director has been vacant since July 1, 2021. The GSPT is in charge of supporting important Statewide initiatives designed to enhance the efficient use of taxpayers conservation dollars and is responsible for reporting to the Governor and the Legislature on the progress being made on achieving statutory goals and objectives concerning open space preservation and park development, farmland preservation, and historic preservation.