Bill > H1295

This bill establishes a new Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), which is a state agency responsible for various agricultural and consumer protection services. This fund will serve as a place to hold money that originates from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a state agency focused on environmental protection. The money in this new DACS trust fund is intended for purposes outlined in Section 28 of Article X of the State Constitution, which generally relates to the acquisition of lands for conservation and recreation. The bill also specifies that DACS must protect the integrity of these transferred funds and that any money that becomes available due to budget reductions or reversions must be returned to the DEP's Land Acquisition Trust Fund within 15 days, remaining available for future use as per the constitution. Furthermore, in line with a constitutional provision for reviewing trust funds, this new fund within DACS is scheduled for termination on July 1, 2019, unless ended sooner, and will undergo review before that date.