ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1429

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 4, 1996

      The Assembly Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1429.

      Assembly Bill No 1429 permits municipalities bordering on the Atlantic Ocean to transfer funds from various accounts, at any time from Memorial Day through Labor Day, to accounts out of which expenditures related to the hiring of lifeguards and the purchase of lifesaving and safety equipment are made, for the purpose of increasing lifeguard protection on municipal beaches by the hiring of additional lifeguards and by extending the hours of lifeguard protection on those beaches. The sponsor is concerned that many of the drownings during the 1995 beach season occurred during daylight hours after 5:00 PM, as a result of unusual surf conditions caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, and intends that the provisions of this bill will assist municipalities in providing increased lifeguard protection after 5:00 PM, when lifeguards are generally off-duty. The transferred funds may also be used by a municipality to inform and educate the public regarding the hazards of dangerous surf conditions.