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Committee releases beach-fee transparency bill after Seaside Heights administrator urges narrow approach
Summary
The Assembly committee released A2293 (as amended), which would require municipalities to include beach costs and revenues in public access plans; Seaside Heights’ beach administrator said his town already uses a separate beach utility budget and urged exemptions and transition periods.
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee on Tuesday released Assembly Bill A2293, a measure that would require municipalities to include detailed information about beach costs, revenues and how beach-fee income is used in public access plans. The bill was released as amended after testimony and questions about the most appropriate reporting mechanism.
The bill’s sponsor described A2293 as “in the spirit of transparency,” saying the intent is to ensure beach-badge revenue is used for beach purposes and that the Department of Environmental Protection can exercise effective oversight through regular reporting. The committee added proposed amendments and voted to release the measure for further consideration.
Christopher Vaz, the borough administrator for Seaside Heights, testified that Seaside already maintains a separate beach utility budget showing revenues and appropriations and that planning boards do not prepare municipal budgets. “We’re not opposing the transparency aspect of this,” Vaz said, arguing that the master plan is a high-level planning document and not the right place for the granular budget detail the bill would require. He asked the committee to exempt municipalities that already operate a beach utility and to give other towns a transition window (he proposed 12 months from adoption, or 48 months for some) to adopt a beach-utility approach.
Committee members pressed on practical issues: whether the change would force yearly master-plan reexaminations, add compliance costs (engineers or counsel) and how DEP enforcement would operate given ongoing backlog on plan reviews. The sponsor said the timing and frequency of required reporting could be adjusted and that she is willing to work with DEP and municipal officials on enforcement language.
A motion to amend and release A2293 passed by roll call. According to the committee record, Assemblyman Meyer and Assemblyman Clifton abstained; Assemblywoman Donlin, Assemblyman Calabrese, Assemblywoman Brennan, Vice Chair Bailey and the chair voted yes. The committee listed the bill as released as amended.
Next steps: The bill is out of committee with amendments; the sponsor said she will work on language to encourage beach utilities and address the enforcement and timing concerns raised in testimony.
