SENATE, No. 1265

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 30, 1996

By Senators MARTIN, LITTELL, Kyrillos, Ciesla, Singer, McGreevey and Cafiero

An Act concerning State parks and forests and supplementing P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-1 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. The department may utilize volunteers to: (1) assist State Park Rangers and other personnel of the department in staffing, operating, patrolling, and monitoring State parks and forests and associated structures and facilities; and (2) assist with maintenance and improvement activities and projects at State parks and forests.

    b. A park volunteer shall not be vested with law enforcement authority, be deemed to be a law enforcement officer, or be authorized to carry a firearm, but may receive such training in public safety, resource protection, environmental education and interpretation, recreation supervision, and other subject matter areas pertinent to the volunteer's duties and responsibilities as may be deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

    c. The commissioner may enter into an agreement with any qualified nonprofit organization to supply a group of park volunteers from the membership of that organization for the purposes of this act.

    d. A park volunteer shall be deemed to be a State employee for purposes of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to utilize volunteers to: (1) assist State Park Rangers and other DEP personnel in staffing, operating, patrolling, and monitoring State parks and forests and associated structures and facilities; and (2) assist with maintenance and improvement activities and projects at State parks and forests. Under the bill, a park volunteer would not be vested with law enforcement authority, be deemed to be a law enforcement officer, or be authorized to carry a firearm, but may receive such training in public safety, resource protection, environmental education and interpretation, recreation supervision, and other subject matter areas pertinent to the volunteer's duties and responsibilities as may be deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. A park volunteer would be deemed to be a State employee for purposes of the "New Jersey Tort Claims Act," N.J.S.59:1-1 et seq.

Authorizes use of volunteers to monitor State parks and forests.