New Jersey § 13:19-16

§ 13:19-16.

a. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall develop a priority system for

ranking shore protection projects and establish appropriate criteria therefor. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1999, and for each fiscal year

thereafter, the commissioner shall use the priority system to establish a shore protection

project priority list for projects designated to receive funding pursuant to an appropriation

made from the Shore Protection Fund, hereinafter referred to as the “fund,” established

pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c. 148 ( C.13:19-16.1 ). The list shall include a description of each project and its purpose, impact, estimated

cost, and estimated construction schedule, and an explanation of the manner in which

priorities were established. A description of the priority system and the project priority list for the ensuing

fiscal year shall be submitted to the Legislature on or before January 31 of each

year on a day when both Houses are meeting. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall cause

the date of submission to be entered upon the Senate Journal and the Minutes of the

General Assembly, respectively, and shall cause the project priority list to be introduced

in each House in the form of legislative bills authorizing the expenditure of monies

appropriated pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c. 148 ( C.13:19-16.1 ) for projects on the list, and shall refer these bills to the Senate Economic Growth,

Agriculture and Tourism Committee, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee,

the General Assembly Environment, Science and Technology Committee, and the General

Assembly Appropriations Committee, or their successors, for their respective consideration. b. Within 60 days of the referral thereof, the Senate Economic Growth, Agriculture

and Tourism Committee, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the General

Assembly Environment, Science and Technology Committee, and the General Assembly Appropriations

Committee, or their successors, shall, either individually or jointly, consider the

legislation containing the project priority list, and shall report the legislation,

together with any modifications, out of committee for consideration by each House

of the Legislature. On or before June 1 of each year, the Legislature shall approve the legislation

containing the project priority list, including any amendatory or supplementary provisions

thereto. The legislation approved by the Legislature shall authorize the expenditure of monies

appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection from the Shore Protection

Fund for the specific projects, including the estimated amounts therefor, on the list. c. No monies appropriated from the Shore Protection Fund to the Department of Environmental

Protection shall be expended for any shore protection project unless the estimated

expenditure is authorized pursuant to legislation approved in accordance with the

provisions of subsection b. of this section or unless the shore protection project

is of an emergency nature pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 1

of P.L.1992, c. 148 ( C.13:19-16.1 ). The department is authorized to transfer monies between authorized projects to compensate

for the differences between the estimated and actual costs of a project. If the Legislature fails to approve legislation within the time frame specified

pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the expenditure of monies appropriated

from the Shore Protection Fund shall be authorized pursuant to the provisions of the

annual appropriations act.