6:1-90 Findings, declarations.

2. a. The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) New Jersey's public use, general aviation airports are an integral part of the State's transportation network and promote mobility and economic activities of common public benefit. These public use, general aviation transportation facilities are deteriorating and must be improved as to safety and their economic vitality in order to realize their full public benefit.

(2) There is a growing need to upgrade the safety of general aviation airports, which require such improvements and equipment as radar, instrument landing aids and weather-reporting equipment to enable them to safely handle modern general aviation aircraft.

(3) Many publicly owned, general aviation airports are unable to obtain all of the federal funds available to them for airport development because they are unable to raise money for their local matching requirements.

(4) Many privately owned, public use, general aviation airports which are essential to the State's economic development are in danger of conversion to nonaviation uses, and it is in the public interest to provide State assistance to county and municipal efforts to preserve these airports, through acquisition or other means.

(5) Users of general aviation airports have contributed substantial amounts to the State treasury through fees and fuel taxes, and this money should henceforth be used to establish an airport assistance program.

(6) The long term stability and viability of unrestricted public use airports are greatly dependent upon the economic stability and vitality of the aviation enterprises which are located within them.

(7) It is in the public interest for the Department of Transportation to undertake activities which promote aviation safety, promote aviation education, and provide for the promotion of aeronautics.

b. The Legislature therefore finds and declares that it is in the public interest to establish an Airport Safety Fund, impose a two cent per gallon tax on fuel distributed to general aviation airports, and authorize the Commissioner of Transportation to establish assistance programs to improve the safety and economic vitality of general aviation airports, to promote aviation safety and education, and to provide for the promotion of aeronautics.

c. The Legislature also declares that, inasmuch as federal authorities already register aircraft, it is deemed appropriate to cease the State registration of New Jersey based aircraft, which is currently administered at a net loss.

L.1983,c.264,s.2; amended L.1997,c.231,s.1.