Enacts the "Rockland Bergen Bi-state watershed flood prevention and protection act"

Summary of provisions

Section 1: This bill creates the "Rockland Bergen Bi-State Watershed Flood protection Act"

Section 2: Addresses the issues of flood hazards along the various waterways that cross the interstate border region and identifies the necessity for a bi-state approach to flood prevention and identifies the long history of cooperation between the states of New York and New Jersey. This section recognized the need to endorse and formalize such relationship in order to protect the natural, scenic, and recreational opportunities associated with this area; deemed appropriate to accomplish these very goals.

Section 3: Defines the term "Bi-State Region" as tributaries and watersheds of the Hackensack River, Mahwah River, Ramapo River, Saddle River, and Sparkill Brook/creek, within the communities of Rockland, New York and Bergen, New Jersey. This section continues, and defines the term "Resident voter" to mean an individual registered to vote and actually votes in an election district within Rockland, NY or Bergen, NJ.

Section 4: (a) Sets forth the commission, number of its members, member qualifications and the origins of the member's appointment within the states of New York and New Jersey. (b) Details successors to the original appointments at a member of the Rockland Bergen Bi-State River Commission shall serve without compensation, but authorizes the state to reimburse members for actual expenses incurred in the course of performing their duties. (d) Expresses that a member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Section 5(a): the selection requirements.

This section establishes the commission's hierarchy and of each state's respected co-chairs and their positioning (b) Codifies that meetings of the commission shall be as regular as the commission determines, and shall be at such times and places as the co-chairpersons deem appropriate. The section further codifies that meeting places will alternate between states and makes the meetings of the commission subject to the statutes of their respected states.

Section 6; Details the express duties of the commission.

Section 7: Requires the commission to submit annual progress reports on its activities, and submit the report along with any recommendations to the Governors and Legislatures of the states of New York and New Jersey.

Section 8: Authorizes the comptrollers of the states of New York and New Jersey to examine the accounts and books of the commission and report the findings to their respective Governors and Legislatures.

Section 9: This act shall take effect upon enactment into law by the State of New Jersey; however, if New Jersey should enact the same prior to New York, then this act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

This law addresses the issues of flood hazards along the various waterways that cross the interstate border region and identifies the necessity for a bi-state approach to flood prevention and identifies the long history of cooperation between the states of New York and New Jersey. Furthermore, the legislation compliments the long history of cooperation between the states of New York and New Jersey and formalizes the relationship by creating the "Rockland Bergen Bi-State Commission", in order to protect the natural, scenic, and recreational opportunities along the "Bi-State Region".

Legislative history

A.7428 of 2009-2010.

Fiscal implications

Need to be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect upon enactment into law by the State of New Jersey; however, if New Jersey should enact the same prior to New York, then this act shall take effect immediately.