2. a. There is created in the Department of the Treasury a non-lapsing, revolving fund to be known as the “Pinelands Preservation Fund.” The fund shall be the depository of the fees collected pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.1996, c.147 (C. 39:3-27.85). Interest or other income earned on monies deposited into the Pinelands Preservation Fund shall be credited to the fund.

b. Moneys in the Pinelands Preservation Fund shall be appropriated and distributed exclusively: (1) to reimburse the Division of Motor Vehicles for all costs incurred by that division, as stipulated by the director of that division, in producing, issuing, renewing, making computer programming changes in connection with and publicizing the Pinelands preservation license plates; (2) to pay for the costs of surveys and appraisals and other necessary costs incurred by the Department of Environmental Protection to acquire lands in the Pinelands National Reserve that have limited practical use because of their location and that are held by landowners who both own less than 50 acres in the reserve and have exhausted existing remedies to secure relief; and (3) to pay for Pinelands acquisition projects approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection in accordance with applicable State and federal laws relating to the protection of the Pinelands National Reserve and the pinelands area.

Of the initial fees collected from the issuance of Pinelands preservation license plates, an amount not to exceed $100,000 shall be allocated to the Division of Motor Vehicles to pay the cost of any computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the Pinelands preservation license plates program established by this act.

L.1996,c.147,s.2.