This bill transfers the New Jersey Historic Trust from the Department of State to the Department of Community Affairs, aligning statutory law with its current operational affiliation. The bill amends existing provisions to reflect this change, including the deletion of references to the Department of State and the Secretary of State, replacing them with the Department of Community Affairs and its Commissioner. Additionally, it establishes that the board of trustees for the New Jersey Historic Trust will include the Commissioner of Community Affairs or a designated representative, and mandates that trustees possess a minimum of five years of experience in relevant fields such as historic preservation, architecture, or cultural nonprofit management.

Furthermore, the bill expands the powers of the New Jersey Historic Trust by allowing it to collect fees for workshops and educational initiatives, as well as to determine the amount of 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 related to the Trust's activities. Overall, the bill 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