ASSEMBLY, No. 1403
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
"Penny's Law"; requires DEP to develop beach accessibility guidelines for
persons with disabilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid
Waste Committee with technical review.
A1403 HAIDER, STANLEY
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AN ACT concerning guidelines for beach accessibility for persons 1
with disabilities, designated as Penny's Law, and supplementing 2
Title 13 of the Revised Statutes. 3
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
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1. a. Within one year after the effective date of this act, the 8
Department of Environmental Protection shall, in consultation with 9
the Department of Human Services, develop guidelines for specific 10
facilities and accommodations necessary to provide accessibility to 11
beaches for persons with disabilities. The guidelines shall include 12
recommendations for ramps, restrooms, showers, boardwalks, surf 13
chairs, parking, and any other facilities deemed appropriate. 14
b. When developing the guidelines pursuant to subsection a. of 15
this section, the Department of Environmental Protection shall: 16
(1) consult with persons and organizations that have knowledge 17
and experience in assisting individuals with intellectual or 18
developmental disabilities. The Department of Human Services 19
shall establish a process by which such persons and organizations 20
will be informed of their ability to provide input and 21
recommendations in association with the development of beach 22
accessibility guidelines under this section; and 23
(2) consider, as appropriate, the guidelines for beach access 24
routes and facilities on federal lands, which have been adopted by 25
the United States Access Board. 26
c. Upon adoption of the guidelines pursuant to subsection a. of 27
this section, the Department of Environmental Protection shall 28
publish the guidelines on its Internet website and distribute the 29
guidelines to every county and municipality with publicly-owned 30
beach or waterfront property. 31
d. The Department of Environmental Protection shall design a 32
uniform promotional label or sign that may be displayed by a State 33
or local government at any beach that complies with the guidelines 34
adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section. 35
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2. This act shall take effect immediately. 37