New Jersey state government has officially shut down, except for emergency services. But that does mean the state park system - including Island Beach State Park - will be closed for the July 4 weekend, as well as other agencies important to the lives of New Jerseyans.
And forget about renewing your driver's license. You can't do it if the MVC is closed.
Gov. Chris Christie said he was declaring a state of emergency to keep essential services available, but he used the moment as an opportunity to also rip the state Legislature for its "inaction."
The Christie administration acknowledged that the shutdown was official just before midnight Saturday. The governor's spokesman, Brian Murray, said the administration was calling for a special session with lawmakers at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
“The Governor will be calling for a special session tomorrow at 11am. He has not asked, either formally or informally, for the opportunity to address that session," Murray said.
"The governor has called the session not to give speeches but to try to work to convince the Speaker to reopen the government that the speaker has closed tonight. The Governor will be here early tomorrow to continue to work for the people of New Jersey.”
Read more: NJ's Biggest Beach Closes July 4 Weekend If Government Shuts Down
The Christie administration remains locked in a stalemate over school funding and the governor's desire to use state lottery revenue for the pension system, as well as extract $300 million from the reserve fund from the state's largest health insurance company, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, to pay for drug addiction treatment.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto opposes the measure, saying it will take money away from a health insurance company that will, in turn, then end up charging higher for premiums.
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Reporters and eyewitnesses said Prieto and lawmakers were at the Statehouse in Trenton late Friday, and Prieto kept attempting to get a budget that would get the 41 votes it needs for it to pass. But he continually fell at least 15 votes short.
Prieto took to YouTube to criticize the Horizon deal.
Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, want to allocate $100 million more than the school funding Gov. Chris Christie proposed for the 2017-18 fiscal year. But others, like Toms River and Brick, could lose millions in so-called "adjustment aid," which was created in 2008 to make sure districts would not see big drops in their state aid when a new formula went into effect.
The last shut down was in 2006, the first one ever. Now, like then, both sides have to find some way to make a deal on a potential $35.5 billion.
Here's what will happen:
ncluded among the essential functions that will remain in operation: State Police, state correctional facilities, key child welfare services, state hospitals and treatment facilities, NJ TRANSIT, and operations linked to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, including certain environmental and health monitoring. The state closure also will NOT impact the State Lottery, casinos and racetracks. For details on non-essential services that will be closed as well as operations that will remain open, check the website of that department or agency.
Links to many major state agencies and a brief description of services impacted are provided below.
Department of Environmental Protection: All state parks, recreation areas, forests, and historic sites, including Island Beach State Park and Liberty State Park, will be closed; all public events within state parks and historic sites will be cancelled.
The following will also be closed: permitting offices for Air, Historic Preservation, Land Use, Site Remediation, Solid Waste, and Water Supply; Green Acres and Blue Acres offices; Office of Dispute Resolution; Office of Permit Coordination; most of the Division of Fish & Wildlife (Wildlife Management Areas and on-line services will not be impacted); NJ Geologic Survey; and Rebuild by Design projects.
Department of Transportation: Construction will continue, as will emergency repairs and some roadside safety services. The rest areas on I-295 in Deepwater, Salem County and on I-80 in Knowlton, Warren County, will be closed.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission: All MVC agencies and inspection stations will be closed. Online services will still be available.
Department of Law & Public Safety: Juvenile Justice Commission operations, State Medical Examiner Offices, and other public safety operations will continue, but some administrative offices will be closed.
Department of Health: The public will not be able to obtain copies of birth and marriage certificates, or copies of adoptees’ original birth certificates. No new certifications or renewals will be issued for EMTs, paramedics or Certified Nursing Assistants.
New Jersey Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance and disability determination services will remain operational. Temporary Disability Insurance claims, Wage and Hour claims, and Family Leave Insurance claims may be filed, but they will not be processed. One Stop Career Centers (state not county services) will be closed; Workers Compensation Courts will be closed. Division of Vocational and Rehabilitation Services will be closed.
Department of Children and Families: Child abuse hotlines, protection services and response teams will continue to operate. Schools for children with special needs will remain open.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: Veteran’s Haven North and South will remain in operation and National Guard will remain on call.
Department of Banking and Insurance: All offices will be closed except the IURO (health insurance internal appeals program).
Department of Community Affairs: Inspections related to construction codes, fire safety, fairs and fireworks displays will continue, however some public services will not be available.
Department of Corrections: Prisons and halfway houses will remain operational, although some inmate services will be impacted.
Department of Education: Katzenbach School will remain open. Phone help desks, customer service, and all other related staff-based assistance functions will be unavailable and all core public functions will be closed.
Economic Development Authority: EDA will not process any payments to businesses from any program (such as the Business Employment Incentive Program) which funding source needs to be authorized by the FY 2018 Appropriations Act.
Department of State: The travel and tourism welcome centers will be closed.
Department of the Treasury: July 1 pension checks have been processed and mailed. Taxation call centers and walk-in facilities will be closed.
The Division of Risk Management will be closed, however the scheduling of medical appointments, treatments and services for injured workers will remain ongoing. The Division of Pensions and Benefits will be closed, although it will continue payment of health provider claims and life claims, and continue to process changes to family status for health benefits.
Patch file photo
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Originally published July 1, 2017.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/n-j-state-government-shuts-down
