Bill > A5265

This bill authorizes local municipal or county construction officials to enforce landscape irrigation laws, in addition to the existing Landscape Irrigation Contractors Examining Board. The bill increases the penalties for violations of landscape irrigation regulations, raising the maximum civil administrative penalty from $2,500 to $5,000 for a first offense, $5,000 to $10,000 for a second offense, and introducing a new $15,000 penalty for subsequent offenses. The bill also establishes a new "Landscape Irrigation Penalty Enforcement Fund" in the Department of Community Affairs, with 30% of penalty revenues going to this fund and 70% retained by the municipality where the violation occurred. Additionally, the bill changes the overseeing department from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Community Affairs and expands the definition of enforcement agencies to include local construction officials. The legislation provides these local enforcing agencies with the same investigative and disciplinary powers as the board, including issuing warnings, ordering corrective actions, assessing penalties, and potentially revoking business permits or certificates for landscape irrigation contractors.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5265