AN ACT relating to the organization and reorganization of the Executive Branch of the State Government, continuing the Department of Conservation and Economic Development as a principal department in the Executive Branch of the State Government to be known and designated as the Department of Environmental Protection, and revising parts of the statutory law.
BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.13:1D-1 Department reorganized and designated. 1. The Department of Conservation and Economic Development heretofore established as a principal department in the Executive Branch of the State Government is hereby reorganized, continued and designated as the Department of Environmental Protection, and the office of Commissioner of Conservation and Economic Development is hereby continued and designated as the office of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.
C.13:1D-2 Powers and duties continued. 2. Except as otherwise provided by this act, all the functions, powers and duties of the existing Department of Conservation and Economic Development and the commissioner thereof are continued in the Department of Environmental Protection as hereby designated and in the office of the commissioner thereof.
3. Section 5 of P.L.1948, chapter 448 (C.13:1B-5) is amended to read as follows:
C.13:1B-5 Divisions in department; assistants in Administrative Division; absence or disability of Commissioner. 5. a. There is hereby established in the Department of Environ- mental Protection, a Division of Environmental Quality, a division of Natural Resources, a Division of Fish, Game and Shell Fisheries, a Division of Water Policy and Supply and a Division of Parks, Forestry and Recreation. The commissioner shall have authority to organize and maintain in his offices an administrative division and to assign to employment therein such secretarial, clerical and other assistants in the department as his office and the internal operations of the department shall require, and the commissioner shall have authority to direct and coordinate the uses of all public lands under the jurisdiction of the department. In addition, the commissioner shall have the authority to reorganize the department and the several divisions established therein, into such offices, bureaus and agencies which he deems to be necessary and desirable. b. The commissioner may designate any officer or employee in the department to perform all of the powers, functions and duties of the commissioner during the absence or disability of the commissioner. Such designation shall be subject to the approval of the Governor, and shall be in writing and filed with the Secretary of State. In the event that the commissioner shall die, resign or be removed from office or become disqualified to execute the duties of his office or a vacancy shall occur in the office of the commissioner for any cause whatever, the person designated as aforesaid shall have and exercise the powers and perform the functions, powers and duties of the commissioner until the successor of the commissioner is appointed and shall qualify.
C.13:1D-3 Division of Natural Resources; Natural Resource Council. 4. a. The Division of Resource Development, together with all of its functions, powers and duties is continued as the Division of Natural Resources in the Department of Environmental Protection. b. The Resource Development Council, together with all of its functions, powers and duties, is continued as the Natural Resource Council in the Department of Environmental Protection. This act shall not affect the terms of office of the present members of the council. The members of the council shall continue to be appointed as provided by existing law.
5. Section 9 of chapter 448 of the laws of 1948 (C.13:1B-9) is amended to read as follows: