Bill Text: NJ SR87 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges shore municipalities to enact ordinances providing free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-24 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [SR87 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-SR87-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Urges shore municipalities to enact ordinances providing free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging shore municipalities to enact ordinances that provide free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans.
Whereas, Veterans have bravely sacrificed for their country, and the State of New Jersey has enacted several laws recognizing their sacrifice; and
Whereas, One such law, P.L.1955, c.49 (C.40:61-22.20), provides that shore municipalities in this State may enact ordinances providing that no fees, or reduced fees, be charged for beach access to veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, who were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable, and who either served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability; and
Whereas, Recently, one shore municipality misinterpreted this law and rescinded its ordinance that provided free beach access to all current and veteran military personnel, and instead enacted a beach access policy that limits free beach access to current military personnel and disabled veterans; and
Whereas, P.L.1955, c.49 provides that shore municipalities may enact ordinances that provide free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans, whether or not the veteran is disabled; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House, considering the courage and bravery that veterans have displayed in their service to this country, to clarify that P.L.1955, c.49, indeed, permits shore municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans and urge each shore municipality to enact such an ordinance if it is not currently the policy of the municipality; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges shore municipalities to enact ordinances, pursuant to their authority under P.L.1955, c.49 (C.40:61-22.20), that provide all qualifying veterans with free or reduced fee beach access.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the governing body of any municipality in this State bordering on the Atlantic Ocean.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution urges shore municipalities to enact ordinances, pursuant to their authority under P.L.1955, c.49 (C.40:61-22.20), that provide all qualifying veterans with free or reduced fee beach access.
The State has enacted several laws recognizing veterans for bravely sacrificing for their country. One such law, P.L.1955, c.49, provides that shore municipalities in this State may enact ordinances providing that no fees, or reduced fees, be charged for beach access to certain veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, who were discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable, and who either have served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of a service-incurred injury or disability.
Recently, one shore municipality misinterpreted this law and rescinded its ordinance that provided free beach access to all current and veteran military personnel. In its place, the municipality enacted a beach access policy that limits free beach access to current military personnel and disabled veterans.
This resolution, in consideration of the courage and bravery that veterans have displayed in their service to this country, clarifies that P.L.1955, c.49, indeed, permits shore municipalities to provide free or reduced fee beach access to all qualifying veterans, and urges each shore municipality to enact such an ordinance if it is not currently the policy of the municipality.
