SENATE, No. 2709

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 15, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JENNIFER BECK

District 11 (Monmouth)

Senator  PAUL A. SARLO

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" in Business Action Center.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act establishing the "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  There is established within the Business Action Center in the Department of State the New Jersey Business Advisory Council.  The council shall consist of 12 members appointed by the Governor.  Members of the advisory council shall include representatives from small, medium, and large businesses, urban, suburban, and rural-based businesses, and shall represent a variety of industry sectors, including businesses involved in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or innovation and businesses engaged in military contracts or hiring veterans.  At least three of the members shall be residents of either Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, or Union counties, at least three of the members shall be residents of either Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, or Warren counties, and at least three of the members shall be residents of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, or Salem counties.

     b.    Vacancies in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.  The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the council for this purpose.

     c.    The council shall:

     (1)   annually select a chairperson from among its members;

     (2)   meet at least four times a year;

     (3)   be entitled to call to its assistance, and avail itself of the services of the employees of, any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency, including the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, as it may require, and as may be available to it for its purposes; and

     (4)   make recommendations to the Business Action Center and New Jersey Economic Development Authority on issues involving the improvement of the business climate in New Jersey, including recommendations for policy and regulatory changes concerning the establishment and maintenance of all businesses located in this State.

     d.    The Secretary of State shall designate a representative from the Department of State to serve as a liaison and to assist the council in accomplishing its mission.

     e.    The Business Action Center shall review and consider all recommendations submitted by the council.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would establish the "New Jersey Business Advisory Council" within the Business Action Center (BAC) in the Department of State to advise the BAC and New Jersey Economic Development Authority on issues involving the improvement of the overall business climate in New Jersey.  The advisory council is to consist of 12 members, with at least three members each representing the northern, central, and southern regions of the State.  The members are to represent small, medium, and large businesses, urban, suburban, and rural-based businesses, and are to represent a variety of industry sectors and businesses engaged in military contracts or hiring veterans.