SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 581

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Human Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 581 with committee amendments.

      As amended by committee, this bill allows persons with disabilities who hold an identification card issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles pursuant to either P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.) or P.L.1980, c.47 (C.39:3-29.2 et seq.) and need to push a young child in a stroller, to gain entry to public facilities which otherwise prohibit strollers. The person with disabilities may not leave the stroller unattended and is liable for any damages done to the premises of the public facility by the stroller. The facility may not charge any extra fees for the stroller. As used in this bill, a stroller would include a carriage, a folding-type umbrella stroller, or a full-size stroller.

      This bill is similar to Senate Bill No. 1332 of 1995 (Sinagra) which was reported by the Senate Human Services Committee during the last session.

      The committee adopted technical amendments to reflect that the Division of Motor Vehicles is now in the Department of Transportation.