S798

An Act concerning free admission to State parks and forests and certain historic sites and historic properties in the State for certain veterans on certain days, amending P.L.2007, c.275, and supplementing P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) and Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. Section 1 of P.L.2007, c.275 (C.13:1L-12.1) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. (1) The department shall not charge an admission fee for entrance into a State park or forest by any veteran during an event held by a veterans' organization. In addition, the department shall not charge a facilities fee of any kind to any veterans' organization using a State park or forest for an event.

(2) The department shall not charge an admission fee or facilities fee of any kind for entrance into a State park or forest by a person holding a driver's license or identification card with a Gold Star Family designation issued pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2013, c.165 (C.39:3-10f6) or section 2 of P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.3), respectively.

(3) The department shall not charge an admission fee for entrance into a State park or forest by any veteran on the date that the State may designate for the celebration of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day.

b. As used in this section:

"Veteran" means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged [honorably or under general honorable conditions in] or released under conditions other than dishonorable from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of this State or another state as defined in section 1 of P.L.1963, c.109 (C.38A:1-1), or any [honorably discharged] member of the American Merchant Marine discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits; and

"Veterans' organization" means the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or other veterans' organizations chartered under federal law, or any service foundation of such an organization recognized in its bylaws.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.500, s.1)

2. (New section) a. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 13 of the Revised Statutes, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization shall not charge a veteran an admission fee to any historic property for which an admission fee is normally charged and was acquired or preserved for historic preservation purposes using constitutionally dedicated moneys in whole or in part, Green Acres bond act moneys in whole or in part, or constitutionally dedicated CBT moneys pursuant to P.L.2016, c.12 (C.13:8C-43 et seq.) in whole or in part, on the date that the State may designate for the celebration of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day. The veteran may be required to provide proof of service and discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable.

b. As used in this section, “veteran" means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of this State or another state as defined in section 1 of P.L.1963, c.109 (C.38A:1-1), or any member of the American Merchant Marine discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.

3. (New section) a. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 13 of the Revised Statutes, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a historic site owned or operated by a county or municipality shall not charge a veteran an admission fee to the historic site on the date that the State may designate for the celebration of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day.

b. As used in this section:

“Historic site" means any real property, man-made structure, natural object or configuration or any portion or group of the foregoing of historical, archeological, cultural, scenic or architectural significance.

“Veteran" means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of this State or another state as defined in section 1 of P.L.1963, c.109 (C.38A:1-1), or any member of the American Merchant Marine discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill provides free admission for veterans on the date that the State may designate for the celebration of Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day to:

1) State parks and forests, which also includes State owned or leased historic sites;

2) historic properties acquired or preserved by a local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization by using State funding; and

3) any historic site owned or operated by a county or a municipality.

The bill defines “veteran” as any resident of the State who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a Reserve component thereof, or any member of the American Merchant Marine discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.