(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Daniel Benson, Cleopatra Tucker and Wayne DeAngelo to allow municipalities to provide veterans free or reduced cost access to beaches has been signed into law.
“While our military men and women risk their lives protecting our shores, providing them with free or low cost beach access when they come home is just one small token of gratitude we can offer them,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex).
The law (A-2042) allows shore municipalities to adopt an ordinance to provide free or reduced fee beach access to veterans who have served in any of the Armed Forces, and who were discharged or released from there under conditions other than dishonorable and who either have served at least 90 days in active duty or have been discharged or released from active duty by reason of an actual service-incurred injury or disability. The law requires any municipality providing for free or reduced fee beach access to track the number of veterans who qualify for this benefit.
“There is no way to adequately thank our service members and their families for the sacrifices they make day in and day out, but this is one small way to show our appreciation and allow them to enjoy the best that Jersey has to offer,” said Tucker (D-Essex).
“We can never truly repay our service men and women for their many sacrifices, but we can do everything in our power to make their lives a little easier and more enjoyable, especially when they come home to such a difficult economy,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex).