Sponsored by:
Senator MICHAEL J. DOHERTY
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Exempts disabled veterans from certain fees at State parks and forests.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning State park and forest fees and amending P.L.1983, c.324.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 12 of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-12) is amended to read as follows:
12. a. The department shall not charge an admission fee for entrance into a State park or forest by any resident of the State [of] who is:
(1) 62 or more years of age [or who is] ;
(2) totally disabled [or who is] ;
(3) a disabled veteran; or
(4) an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training.
The department shall prescribe by regulation the types of evidence that may be used to qualify persons for the benefits of this subsection.
b. In addition to an admission fee for entrance into a State park, the department shall not charge a disabled veteran a fee to access a State park beach by motor vehicle in order to fish thereat, including any fee for a mobile sportfishing vehicle permit.
c. As used in this section [,] :
"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.1993, c.304, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would provide free admission to State parks and forests to disabled veterans residing in New Jersey who have been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who have been declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree. This bill would also exempt such disabled veterans from any fees for accessing State park beaches by motor vehicle in order to fish there, including fees for mobile sportfishing vehicle permits. State law currently only provides free admission to State parks and forests to New Jersey residents who are 62 or more years of age, totally disabled, or active members of the New Jersey National Guard who have completed Initial Active Duty Training, and current law does not specifically exempt disabled veterans from fees for motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish. This bill would extend free State park and forest admission, as well as provide free motor vehicle access to State park beaches to fish, to all veterans who have incurred a service-connected disability, regardless of the degree of disability.