Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman KEVIN P. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DEP to establish resident-only priority registration period for sale of permits at Island Beach State Park before opening sales to non-residents.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning registration for certain State park permits and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act:
“Department” means the Department of Environmental Protection.
“Eligible permit” means any annual, seasonal, or short-term mobile sport fishing vehicle permit, beach-driving permit, or other motor-vehicle access permit issued by the department for use at Island Beach State Park.
“Priority registration period” means the time period established by the department during which only residents may apply for or purchase eligible permits.
“Resident” means a person legally domiciled within the State of New Jersey for a minimum period of six months.
b. The department shall establish, for each permit issuance cycle for Island Beach State Park, a priority registration period during which only residents may apply for or purchase eligible permits.
c. The department shall determine a reasonable length and start date for the priority registration period.
d. During the priority registration period, the department shall:
(1) restrict access to online and in-person eligible permit application systems exclusively to residents;
(2) require proof of residency at the time of application or purchase, in the form of a New Jersey driver’s license or other State-issued identification; and
(3) deny, defer, cancel, or void any application submitted by a non-resident during the priority registration period.
e. Upon conclusion of the priority registration period, any remaining eligible permits shall be made available to non-residents under the same procedures used by the department for general permit sales.
2. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a priority registration period during which only New Jersey residents may apply for or purchase certain Island Beach State Park motor-vehicle access permits, including mobile sport fishing and beach-driving permits.
During the priority registration period for eligible permits, the DEP would be required to restrict permit application systems exclusively to State residents and verify residency through a New Jersey driver’s license or other State-issued identification. Any applications submitted by non-residents during this period would be denied, deferred or voided. After the priority registration period ends, any remaining permits are to be made available to non-residents under existing permit application procedures.