4. a. For any application for a permit or other approval to be issued by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the “Coastal Area Facility Review Act,” P.L.1973, c.185 (C. 13:19-1 et seq.), R.S.12:5-3, “The Wetlands Act of 1970,” P.L.1970, c.272 (C. 13:9A-1 et seq.), the “Flood Hazard Area Control Act,” P.L.1962, c.19 (C. 58:16A-50 et seq.), or the State‘s implementation of the “Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972,” 16 U.S.C. § 1451 et seq., or any other law, if the application provides for a change in the existing footprint of a structure, a change in use of the property, or involves beach replenishment or beach and dune maintenance, the department shall review the existing public access provided to tidal waters and adjacent shorelines at the property and shall require as a condition of the permit or other approval that additional public access to the tidal waters and adjacent shorelines consistent with the public trust doctrine be provided. In determining the public access that is required at a property, the department shall consider the scale of the changes to the footprint or use, the demand for public access, and any department-approved municipal public access plan or public access element of a municipal master plan. The requirements of this subsection shall apply to any application for an individual permit submitted on or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.81 (C. 13:1D-150 et al.). No later than 18 months after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.81 (C. 13:1D-150 et al.), the requirements of this subsection shall apply to permits-by-rule, general permits, or general permits-by-certification issued by the department as provided in rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

b. No later than 18 months after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.81 (C. 13:1D-150 et al.), the department shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations establishing:

(1) those permits-by-rule, general permits, and general permits-by-certification for which public access would be required, but which would not require individual review pursuant to subsection a. of this section;

(2) those permits-by-rule, general permits, and general permits-by-certification for which, consistent with the public trust doctrine, public access would not be required; and

(3) specific categories of projects which, due to the existence of an emergency condition, or a condition that poses a significant and immediate threat to public health and safety, shall not require individual review of public access pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

L.2019, c.81, s.4.