Bill > S876

Introduced Session

The bill establishes the New Jersey Abandoned and Derelict Boat Removal working group, establishes a program and a fund to reimburse municipalities for the cost of removing abandoned vessels, and appropriates $25 million. Under the provisions of this bill, the working group is allocated within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The working group is to consist of 21 members as follows: 1) five ex officio members or their designees as follows: the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Department of Transportation Office of Maritime Resources, and the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Enforcement; 2) the President of the New Jersey Association of Counties or a designee; 3) the President of the New Jersey League of Municipalities or a designee; 4) a public member who is a representative of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey appointed by the President of the Senate; 5) a public member who is a representative of the commercial fishing industry in this State appointed by the President of the Senate; 6) a public member who is a representative of the recreational fishing industry in this State appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; 7) four public members appointed by the President of the Senate; 8) four public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and 9) three public members appointed by the Governor. The bill requires the Governor to designate a chairperson and any co-chairpersons deemed necessary by the Governor. The working group's responsibility under the bill is to assist local communities in identifying and safely removing abandoned and derelict boats within the State. Within one year of the working group's initial organizational meeting, the working group is required to issue an interim report of its work and provide a copy to the Governor, and the members of the Senate and General Assembly. Thereafter, annual reports are required to be issued by February 1st of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. The bill requires that staff support for the working group be provided by the Department of Law and Public Safety. In addition, the bill establishes a program to reimburse municipalities for the cost of removing abandoned vessels and appropriates $25 million for this purpose. Under current law, municipalities are authorized to remove abandoned vessels under certain circumstances. Under the provisions of the bill, the State Treasurer is required to establish a program to provide reimbursement to municipalities for the cost of removing the abandoned vessels. The bill provides that a municipality may submit an application for reimbursement in a form and manner determined by the State Treasurer. Further, the bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury a separate, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Abandoned Vessels Fund." The fund is to be administered by the department and dedicated to providing reimbursement to municipalities for the cost of removing abandoned vessels pursuant to the program established by the bill. The bill provides that the funds contained in the "Abandoned Vessels Fund" are not to be diverted for another purpose, unless the Legislature approves the diversion by a two-thirds majority. The bill also appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of the Treasury $25 million for the provision of that amount to the "Abandoned Vessels Fund" for the purposes set forth in the bill. Under current law, it is unlawful for an owner to abandon a vessel on public land or water or private property without the consent of the owner, except when an emergency exists. An owner who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. Each day upon which the violation continues is to constitute a separate offense. In addition, under current law, a municipality may adopt an ordinance, or a harbor commission may adopt a resolution, requiring every owner or operator of a vessel that moors or docks in a municipal waterway or grounds on land under the control of the municipality or harbor commission to register with the appropriate official. An owner or operator who violates the provisions of the ordinance or resolution is subject to a civil penalty between $100 and $1,250. Each day upon which the violation continues constitutes a separate offense. Current law provides that these civil penalties are to paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality. Under this bill, these civil penalties are to be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited into the "Abandoned Vessels Fund" established by the bill. Finally, the bill provides that in order to be eligible for reimbursement under the program established by the bill, a municipality is required to adopt an ordinance requiring an owner or operator of a vessel that moors or docks in a municipal waterway or grounds on land under the control of the municipality or harbor commission to register with the appropriate official.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Vin Gopal (D)*,  Mike Testa (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document