This bill revises existing laws regarding the feeding of black bears in New Jersey and establishes a new program within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for distributing bear-proof garbage cans. It creates a special fund, known as the "Bear Smart Fund," which will be used exclusively for this purpose. The fund will be financed through civil penalties collected for violations of bear feeding laws, state or federal appropriations, and interest earnings. The DEP is tasked with implementing a program to purchase and distribute these bear-proof garbage cans, particularly in counties with significant bear populations, while also allowing for collaboration with local municipalities and waste companies to reduce costs.

Additionally, the bill amends the current law by clarifying the prohibitions on feeding bears and specifying actions that do not constitute feeding, such as the use of bird feeders or the storage of food in closed buildings. It removes the previous requirement for a prior written warning before imposing civil penalties for violations, establishing a new penalty structure that ranges from $100 to $500 for first offenses and $300 to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Overall, the bill aims to minimize human-bear conflicts while promoting responsible waste management practices through the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 23:2A-14