This bill proposes the transfer of the New Jersey Historic Trust from the Department of State to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), aligning statutory law with its current operational affiliation. It amends several existing laws to reflect this change, including the establishment of the Trust as a corporate entity under the DCA, and modifies the composition and qualifications of the board of trustees. Specifically, the bill stipulates that trustees must have a minimum of five years of experience in relevant fields such as historic preservation, architecture, or cultural nonprofit management, and includes the Commissioner of Community Affairs or their designee as an ex officio member of the board.

Additionally, the bill expands the Trust's authority to collect fees for educational initiatives and allows it to set application fees for loans from the Historic Preservation Revolving Loan Fund. It also clarifies the handling of excess fees collected, ensuring they remain in a non-lapsing account for future use rather than being deposited into the General Fund. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the operational efficiency and governance of the New Jersey Historic Trust while promoting historic preservation efforts in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13:1B-15.111, 13:1B-15.112, 13:1B-15.115