New Jersey Senate Bill S688

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Authorizes free admission to State parks and forests for certain veterans, military personnel, first responders, and police.

Impact

If enacted, S688 would amend existing regulations regarding access to state parks and forests, formally expanding the list of individuals exempt from admission fees. The bill specifies that immediate family members, defined to include a variety of close relations, will also benefit from this provision, provided the qualifying member is present. This modification would ensure that the recognition extends beyond just the service members themselves to their families, thereby encouraging shared experiences in state parks.

Summary

Senate Bill 688 (S688) proposes to authorize free admission to state parks and forests in New Jersey for specific groups including veterans, active military personnel, and first responders. This legislation aims to recognize the service and sacrifices made by these individuals by providing them and their immediate family members with free entry to residential state natural sites. The bill also continues the existing provisions that grant free admission to residents aged 62 or older or those with disabilities.

Contention

While S688 generally has positive implications, potential points of contention may arise regarding how the state will implement regulations to facilitate this policy. There may be discussions on how ‘immediate family members’ are verified and issues relating to the capacity and resource management of parks when admitting larger groups without fees. Additionally, there might be calls for budget considerations to address potential revenue losses from waived admission fees, and how these changes might affect the upkeep and management of these public areas.