New Jersey § 4:1b-10

§ 4:1b-10.

The Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Environment and the Senate Committee on

Agriculture are hereby designated as the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee for

the Agricultural Preserve Demonstration Program. The duties and responsibilities of the committee shall be as follows: a. To review and evaluate the proposed rules, regulations and guidelines for the implementation

and administration of the agricultural preserve program, in terms of feasibility,

effect and conformance with the intentions and provisions of this act. b. To analyze the progress of the program prior to the State acquisition of development

easements to prime agricultural lands, so as to determine the advisability of proceeding

therewith. c. To conduct a final program review and evaluation following the State acquisition

of such easements; such final review and evaluation shall be conducted and transmitted

to the Legislature within 1 year of such acquisition, and shall include the following: (1) A statement of the social, economic and environmental effects of the program on

the program area and on the State; (2) An evaluation of the impact of the program on agriculture and related industries

in this State; (3) An analysis of the mechanism of the State purchase of developments rights to prime

agricultural lands as a means of preserving agricultural open space, the feasibility

of further use of such mechanism in other areas of the State, and potential sources

of funding therefor; and, (4) An identification of possible alternative methods of preserving agricultural open

space in New Jersey. d. To review and evaluate all relevant existing and proposed statutes, rules, regulations

and ordinances, so as to determine the individual and cumulative effect upon the conduct

of agricultural activities in this State. e. To recommend to the Legislature and to the departments, prior to, during and following

the implementation of the program, any legislation, rule, regulation, guideline, or

revision thereto which it deems necessary in order to effectuate the purposes of this

act or the findings of the committee concerning the program created herein. The departments are hereby directed to cooperate with the committee in providing any

assistance or information necessary for or incident to the performance of the duties

and responsibilities of the committee as herein provided.