Bill Text: NJ A2599 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for certain retired members of NJ National Guard.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture Committee [A2599 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A2599-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for certain retired members of NJ National Guard.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning fees for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, and amending P.L.1993, c.303.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1993, c.303 (C.23:3-1e) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no fee, including application fees and issuance fees, may be charged of an applicant for a license, permit, stamp, tag, or certificate to hunt, fish, trap, or otherwise lawfully take fish, game, or any other wildlife in the State, who is :
(1) an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training [or who is] ;
(2) a retired member of the New Jersey National Guard and residing in the State; or
(3) a disabled veteran.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall prescribe by regulation the types of evidence that may be used to qualify persons for the benefits of this section.
b. As used in this act:
"Disabled veteran" means any resident of the State who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree; and
"Initial Active Duty Training" means Basic Military Training, for members of the New Jersey Air National Guard, and Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training, for members of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.282, s.5)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1993, c.303 (C.23:3-1f) is amended to read as follows:
2. At the end of each
fiscal year, the Director of the Division of Fish [, Game] and Wildlife shall certify to
the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the
Treasury the amount that the "hunters' and anglers' license fund" has
been reduced as a result of any license issued without charge pursuant to section
1 of [this
act] P.L.1993,
c.303 (C.23:3-1e). An amount equal to the amount certified shall be
appropriated each year from the General Fund to the "hunters' and anglers'
license
fund" for additional operating costs.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.303, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for retired New Jersey National Guard personnel who reside in the State.
Under current law, this benefit is provided to active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training and to disabled veterans.
