S801

An Act concerning free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel, and amending P.L.1983, c.324 and P.L.2007, c.275.

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 or a State-owned beach by :

(1) any resident of the State [of] who:

(a) is 62 or more years of age [or who] ;

(b) is totally disabled [or who] ;

(d) is a veteran; or

(2) any person who is in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, or reserves component thereof, and

(a) is a resident of the State; or

(b) is not a resident of the State but is stationed in New Jersey .

b. The department shall prescribe by regulation the types of evidence that may be used to qualify persons for the benefits of this [subsection] section .

[b.] c. The department shall not charge a disabled veteran a fee to obtain, replace, or renew a permit to operate a motorized vehicle on a State park beach.

[c.] d. 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.

"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.

"Veteran" means any resident of the State now or hereafter who has been discharged honorably or under general honorable conditions in 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 N.J.S.38A:1-1, or any honorably discharged member of the American Merchant Marine who served during World War II and is declared by the United States Department of Defense to be eligible for federal veterans' benefits.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.398, s.2)

2. 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.

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 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 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'] "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)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would amend current law to provide free admission to State parks, forests, and beaches for certain veterans and military personnel.

Specifically, the bill would provide free admission to veterans who are residents of the State, and to any person who is in active military service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the reserves, who is a State resident or stationed in New Jersey, regardless of their residency status. Current law already provides free admission to State residents who are active members of the National Guard, totally disabled, or 62 or more years of age.