This bill amends the "Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act" to enhance enforcement and penalty provisions. It empowers the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts and the Department of Environmental Protection to take various actions in response to violations, including issuing compliance orders, initiating civil actions, levying civil administrative penalties, and pursuing civil penalties. The bill specifies that recourse to one remedy does not preclude the use of other available remedies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enforcement.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for issuing orders when violations are found, including specifying the nature of the violation, requiring compliance, and providing notice of the right to a hearing. It establishes civil administrative penalties of $1,000 for first violations and $2,500 for subsequent violations, with each day of continued violation counting as a separate offense. The bill also includes provisions for notifying alleged violators and allows for the collection of penalties through the court system. Furthermore, it repeals a previous section related to the levying of fines, streamlining the enforcement process under the revised act.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45:15C-29, 45:15C-28