Bill Text: NJ S637 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes riding of steer and other pack animals designated by DEP in any State park where horseback riding is permitted.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [S637 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S637-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LATHAM TIVER
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes riding of steer and other pack animals designated by DEP in any State park where horseback riding is permitted.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the riding of steer and other pack animals in State parks, and amending and supplementing P.L.1983, c.324.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. For the purposes of this act:
"All-terrain vehicle" means the same as the term is defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1973, c.307 (C.39:3C-1).
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Dirt bike" means any two-wheeled motorcycle that is designed and manufactured for off-road use only and that does not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or United States Environmental Protection Agency on-road emissions standards.
"Forest resources" means those renewable products and reusable resources of all forest lands in the State, including but not limited to trees, timber, shrubs, and other vegetation, and the value of forest lands relating to recreation, wilderness appreciation, aesthetic appeal, and soil fertility.
"Green Acres program" means the program for the purchase of land for recreation and conservation purposes pursuant to P.L.1961, c.45 (C.13:8A-1 et seq.), P.L.1971, c.419 (C.13:8A-19 et seq.), P.L.1975, c.155 (C.13:8A-35 et seq.), any Green Acres bond act, and P.L.1999, c.152 (C.13:8C-1 et seq.).
"Recreational activities" includes, but is not limited to, fresh and salt water swimming, water skiing, boating and fishing, ice skating, snow skiing, camping, trail hiking, horseback riding, steer and other designated pack animal riding, picnicking, bicycling, court and field games, track and field events, birdwatching, playground activities, and golf.
"Snowmobile" means the same as the term is defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1973, c.307 (C.39:3C-1).
"State parks and forests" means all State owned or leased lands, waters and facilities administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, including, but not limited to, parks, forests, recreational areas, marinas, historic sites, burial sites, and natural areas, but not including wildlife management areas or reservoir lands.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.275, s.35)
2. (New section) Whenever the Department of Environmental Protection authorizes horseback riding as a permitted recreational activity in a State park, the department shall additionally authorize, as a permitted recreational activity in the same State park, the riding of steer and any other pack animal designated by the department.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection, whenever it authorizes horseback riding as a permitted recreational activity in a State park, to additionally authorize, as a permitted recreational activity in the same State park, the riding of steer and any other pack animals designated by the department.
