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SR72 • 2026

Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.

Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Gopal, Vin
Last action
2026-07-06
Official status
Filed with Secretary of State
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.

Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.

What This Bill Does

  • Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.
  • Topic: Resolutions and Concurrent Resolutions Filed w/Sec.
  • of State Fiscal note: This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-06 New Jersey Legislature

    Filed with Secretary of State

  2. 2026-06-30 New Jersey Legislature

    Resolution Passed Senate (Voice)

  3. 2026-06-11 New Jersey Legislature

    Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

  4. 2026-02-05 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee

Official Summary Text

Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency services providers.
Topic:
Resolutions and Concurrent Resolutions Filed w/Sec. of State
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SR72 1R

[First Reprint]

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 72

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Senator� CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.

District 9 (Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Recognizes open water lifeguards as first responders
and emergency services providers.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety
Committee on June 11, 2026, with amendments.

��

A Senate
Resolution
recognizing the work of open
water lifeguards.

Whereas,

Open water lifeguards perform an essential function of protecting countless
individuals from death or serious injury every year; and

Whereas,

These lifeguards do so at great risk to their own lives; and

Whereas,

In 2021, two lifeguards in the State of New Jersey lost their lives
in performance of their duties; and

Whereas,

Many open water lifeguards are cross-trained in emergency medical response,
marine fire safety, law enforcement, and water rescue craft operations; and

Whereas,

Lifeguards respond and attend to victims, treat victims, assist victims, and
transport victims, the four defined duties of an emergency response employee;
and

Whereas,

Lifeguards not only protect life, but also property, evidence, and the
environment, the four tenants which define a first responder; and

Whereas,

Many other countries recognize lifeguards as emergency responders,
and grant them access to the programs to which first responders are entitled;
and

Whereas,

Lifeguards receive comparable training as first responders and
perform crucial work to protect the lives of individuals from death or serious
injury and it is the appropriate time for the Senate to recognize their
dedication and work and formally recognize open water lifeguards as first
responders in New Jersey; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey:

��� 1. ��� The Senate of the State
of New Jersey recognizes open water lifeguards qualify as first responder and
emergency response providers and recognizes the essential lifesaving work
performed by these brave individuals.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Secretary of the Senate to
1
[
NJ Lifeguard
and the American Lifeguard Association
]

the United States Lifesaving Association
1
.�