This bill authorizes the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Secretary of Agriculture, to appoint an acting executive director for the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) when the executive director position has been vacant for one year or longer. The acting executive director will serve for a minimum of one year and will be compensated at an annual expense not exceeding $150,000, as determined by the State Treasurer. Importantly, the GSPT will maintain oversight authority over the acting executive director, ensuring that the trust's governance remains intact.

The need for this bill arises from the current vacancy in the GSPT executive director position, which has been unfilled since July 1, 2021. The GSPT plays a crucial role in managing state initiatives related to the efficient use of taxpayer funds for conservation, as well as reporting to the Governor and Legislature on progress in open space preservation, park development, farmland preservation, and historic preservation. This legislation aims to provide a temporary solution to ensure that the trust continues to operate effectively during the vacancy.