Bill Text: NJ AJR114 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Designates first week in June as "Rip Current Awareness Week."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-12 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [AJR114 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR114-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 114

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates first week in June as "Rip Current Awareness Week."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Joint Resolution designating the first full week in June of each year as "Rip Current Awareness Week."

 

Whereas, Rip currents are powerful currents that flow away from shore in a channel like area which can pull swimmers past the surf zone, creating a hazard for swimmers on New Jersey beaches; and

Whereas, Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by lifeguards and over 100 people are killed by rip currents every year on our nation's beaches; and

Whereas, Rip currents can be extremely dangerous, killing more people every year than do shark attacks, tornadoes, lightning or hurricanes; and

Whereas, Rip currents are most dangerous when they pull swimmers away from the beach and the swimmer, instead of swimming out of the current, attempts to fight against the current, causing exhaustion; and

Whereas, Rip currents are very difficult to predict because they are caused by complex interactions between waves, currents, water levels, and the shape of the ocean bottom near the shore, and can occur on any beach with breaking waves; and

Whereas, Coordinated efforts at local, state, regional, and national levels have combined to improve public education of the dangers associated with potentially deadly rip currents, but more education and awareness is necessary; and

Whereas, Agencies such as the National Weather Service and the United States Lifesaving Association, as well as local lifeguards, emergency response personnel, and coastal communities, have coordinated their efforts to increase awareness of the dangers associated with rip currents; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The first full week in June of each year is designated "Rip Current Awareness Week" to recognize the importance of raising public awareness of the dangers of rip currents.

 

     2.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution designates the first full week in June as "Rip Current Awareness Week."  Rip currents pose a serious threat to New Jersey beachgoers and kill many people around the country each year.  Coordinated efforts at local, state, regional, and national levels have combined to improve public education of the dangers associated with potentially deadly rip currents, but more education and awareness is necessary.  This joint resolution is intended to raise awareness regarding the dangers of rip currents.

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