Bill Text: NJ AR151 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Governor to immediately rescind Executive Order No. 118, which closed all State parks and forests and county parks.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 15-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-04-13 - Motion To Table (52-27-0) (Greenwald) [AR151 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR151-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAY WEBBER
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblywoman HOLLY T. SCHEPISI
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman GERARD SCHARFENBERGER
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen DiMaio, Thomson, Wirths, Bergen, Assemblywoman DiMaso, Assemblyman Space, Assemblywoman Stanfield, Assemblymen Peters and Rooney
SYNOPSIS
Urges Governor to immediately rescind Executive Order No.118, which closed all State parks and forests and county parks.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Governor to rescind Executive Order No.118, which closed all State parks and forests and county parks.
Whereas, On April 7, 2020, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No.118, which indefinitely and completely closed all State parks and forests and county parks due to the COVID-19 emergency; and
Whereas, While it is imperative that New Jerseyans comply with social-distancing and other guidelines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the complete closure of over half a million acres of open space to public access is harmful to the public health and well-being of the State's residents; and
Whereas, The closure of public open space appears to be based purely on anecdote, without sufficient data or health science to support the decision; and
Whereas, Department of Environmental Protection's Commissioner McCabe previously stated in a department press release that keeping State-owned open space "available to the public is important so people can continue to enjoy the healthful benefits of recreation and being outdoors"; and
Whereas, As the need to comply with social-distancing guidelines may last for an indeterminate duration, it is important for the State to maintain the confidence and cooperation of the public in the Governor's efforts to combat the pandemic by instituting measures that balance the need to protect the public while also being sensible; and
Whereas, The people of New Jersey are fully capable of making intelligent, common-sense, and responsible choices to fight the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring their physical, emotional, and mental well-being during this difficult time; and
Whereas, Access to fresh air and exercise, especially during this stressful time, is paramount, and according to several medical studies, the outdoors, exercise, sunshine, and fresh air are important factors in building a strong immune system; and
Whereas, A lack of Vitamin D, which the human body obtains by synthesizing sunlight when it comes into contact with skin, has long been associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases; and
Whereas, While New Jersey fights COVID-19, it cannot lose sight of the mental, physical, and social health of the State's residents, which are well served by opportunities for outside recreational activities; and;
Whereas, Numerous other states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and California, have not taken the drastic and arbitrary approach to prohibit public access to State and county open space, and some states have even waived entrance fees to parks; and
Whereas, There are less restrictive measures to ensure public safety in New Jersey's in parks and forests than the complete closure of all State parks and forests and county parks; and
Whereas, Members of the General Assembly stand ready to work with the Governor to find better, more constructive, and more balanced ways to manage our State parks and forests and county parks so that our natural resources can be enjoyed responsibly during this crisis; now, therefor,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges Governor Murphy to immediately rescind Executive Order No.118, which closed all State parks and forests and county parks.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to Governor Murphy, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Chief of the New Jersey State Park Police, and to every county parks department or county park commission, as applicable.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Governor Murphy to immediately rescind Executive Order No. 118, issued on April 7, 2020, which closed all State parks and forests and county parks.
