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 of the Act, 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 remedies available under the law.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for assessing civil administrative penalties, which are set at $1,000 for each violation and $2,500 for subsequent violations, with each day of continued violation constituting a separate offense. It mandates that alleged violators receive a notice detailing the violation and their rights, and they have 20 days to request a hearing. If no hearing is requested, the notice becomes a final order. The bill also repeals a previous section related to the levying of fines for violations, streamlining the enforcement process under the revised provisions.

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