1. a. There is established in the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, a Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program, which shall be based on a national program developed by the Future Fisherman Foundation that encourages school-aged children to avoid drug usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills. The division shall assign staff to develop strategies for assisting school districts or other interested public service organizations in implementing this program throughout the State. Statewide program implementation shall be modeled after the pilot program implemented in Ocean County in calendar year 2000, which may include, but not be limited to, the distribution of materials to promote and operate the program throughout the State. To the maximum extent possible, the division shall implement and operate the program in every county in the State.

b. The division may work with educational, public safety and environmental groups in order to promote volunteerism among these groups for the purpose of acting as program instructors, mentors or advisors. The division may also work with public service organizations, sportsman groups and local merchants to encourage the donation of technical, material and financial assistance to the program.

L.2012, c.46, s.1.