Bill Text: NJ A929 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to develop and promote NJ Heritage Weekend.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A929 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A929-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DIANNE C. GOVE
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to develop and promote NJ Heritage Weekend.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning tourism in the State and supplementing P.L.1977, c.225 (C.34:1A-45 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. In addition to the powers and duties of the division as provided in section 9 of P.L.1977, c.225 (C.34:1A-53), the division, shall develop, coordinate, promote, and support an annual New Jersey Heritage Weekend.
The New Jersey Heritage Weekend shall encourage and support activities, events, and opportunities to celebrate and explore State and local heritage and the contributions and significance of New Jersey citizens and communities to the national heritage. The New Jersey Heritage Weekend shall include, whenever possible, lectures, tours, historical re-enactments, and special programs, and offer visitors discounted or free admission to heritage and cultural destinations.
b. (1) The division shall foster cooperation between destination marketing organizations, convention and visitor bureaus, historic districts, battlefields, and other similar sites, historical societies, museums, other visitor attractions, and other organizations to coordinate, plan, and host New Jersey Heritage Weekend activities, events, and opportunities that broadly represent the diverse heritage of New Jersey.
(2) The division shall, whenever possible, partner with federal and State offices and with the private sector and nonprofit organizations, to provide access to the rich diversity of the State's historic sites and parks and the cultural and recreational opportunities available Statewide.
(3) The division shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, authority, board, bureau, commission, agency, or entity, or any public institution of higher education in the State, as it may require and as may be available to it for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this act.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Division of Travel and Tourism, in the Department of State, to develop, coordinate, promote, and support an annual New Jersey Heritage Weekend.
The New Jersey Heritage Weekend would encourage and support activities, events, and opportunities to celebrate and explore State and local heritage and the contributions and significance of New Jersey citizens and communities to the national heritage. The weekend would include, whenever possible, lectures, tours, historical re-enactments, and special programs, and offer visitors discounted or free admission to heritage and cultural destinations. The division would foster cooperation between destination marketing organizations, convention and visitor bureaus, historic districts, battlefields, and other similar sites, historical societies, museums, other visitor attractions, and other organizations to coordinate, plan, and host New Jersey Heritage Weekend activities, events, and opportunities that broadly represent the diverse heritage of New Jersey.
Further, the division would, whenever possible, partner with federal and State offices and with the private sector and nonprofit organizations, to provide access to the rich diversity of the State's historic sites and parks and the cultural and recreational opportunities available Statewide.
New Jersey Heritage Weekend would exemplify the great value of investing in the State's historic and cultural resources, and encourage citizens and visitors alike to celebrate New Jersey's unique and important role in shaping the country. An annual New Jersey Heritage Weekend would have a tremendous impact by connecting people with heritage attractions, generating tourism Statewide, expanding economic development and revitalization efforts of communities throughout the State, and further protecting, preserving, and promoting heritage resources in the State.
