ASSEMBLY, No. 5075

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 7, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JOHN J. BURZICHELLI

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman  RONALD S. DANCER

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman  GORDON M. JOHNSON

District 37 (Bergen)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Clifton

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial Commission.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning firefighters and supplementing Title 28 of the Revised Statues. 

 

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

 

      1.   a.  There is established, in the Department of State, the New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial Commission.  The purpose of the commission shall be to oversee a permanent fire museum and fallen firefighter memorial to honor New Jersey’s proud history of firefighting service and the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the fire service.

      b.   The commission shall consist of 12 members as follows:

     (1)   the Secretary of State or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;

     (2)   the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;

     (3)   the Director of the Division of Fire Safety or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;

     (4)   two members who are currently serving as board members of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated, to be appointed by the Governor, based upon the recommendation of the current board members of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated;

     (5)   one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, each currently or previously affiliated with fire service or a State recognized fire association;

     (6)   one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, each currently or previously affiliated with an existing New Jersey museum or historical commission;

     (7)   three members appointed by the Governor, including one member currently or previously affiliated with fire service or a State recognized fire association and one member currently or previously affiliated with an existing New Jersey museum or historical commission appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey State Museum in the Department of State.

      c.    Appointments to the commission shall be made within 90 days of the effective date of this act.  Each appointed member shall serve for a term of three years.  Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.  Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of the funds made available to the commission for its purpose. 

     d.    The commission shall organize within 30 days after the appointment of its members.  The commission shall select a chairperson from among the members.   The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson at the times and places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its duties, except that the commission shall meet a minimum of four times per year.  A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.   

     e.     The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.

 

      2    a.  The New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial Commission established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall have the following responsibilities and duties:

     (1)   to make, amend, and repeal rules and bylaws for its own governance and guidance not inconsistent with State and federal law;

     (2)   to maintain an office within the State as it may designate;

     (3)   to contract for, accept, solicit, or collect any grants, loans, funds, property, or other aid in any form from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, from the State or any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof, or from any other public source;

     (4)   to exercise all of the powers, functions, and duties previously exercised by the former New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated, except as herein provided pursuant to P.L    , c.      (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this act);

     (5)   to make and enter into contracts, leases, agreements, and purchases necessary for the use, or incidental to the performance of, the commission's duties and the exercise of its powers pursuant to P.L    , c.      (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this act);

     (6)   to insure against any losses in connection with the commission's properties, operations, or assets;

     (7)   to formulate and adopt rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the commission, its officers, and employees;

     (8)   to institute or cause to be instituted any legal proceedings or processes as may be necessary to properly enforce and give effect to any of the powers or duties of the executive director or the commission;

     (9)   to develop an economic development master plan identifying the commission's objectives, policies, and programs which will encourage the museum’s attraction, expansion, and retention;

     (10)    to support and maintain existing museum facilities and services for the educational or recreational use and benefit of the public;

     (11)    to maintain exhibits and displays to promote and develop public interest and understanding of firefighter history; and

     (12)    to develop, raise funds for, build and operate a fire museum, fire safety education center, and fallen firefighters memorial, and to provide for the display of fire apparatus and equipment, along with the history and documentation available for preservation.

     (13)    to determine the best course of action regarding museum collections both owned by and lent to the commission including, but not limited to, assuming control of all fire apparatus, or continuing any current ownerships agreements entered into by the former board of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated. 

      b.   The former board of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated shall continue to operate in an advisory capacity to the commission established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.    , c.    (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and shall report directly to the executive director and commission. The former board shall advise the executive director and commission with respect to the history and future of the fire museum and fallen firefighter memorial on issues including, but not limited to:

     (1)   maintenance of the fire apparatus collection and existing museum facilities;

     (2)   museum facility expansion, development, and strategic planning;

     (3)   marketing, budget, and fundraising issues;

     (4)   educational and recreational programs held at the museum facilities; and

     (5)   plans and preparations for preservation and restoration of museum collection pieces. 

 

      3.   This act shall take effect immediately. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes, in the Department of State, the New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial Commission.  The purpose of the commission is to oversee a permanent firefighter museum and fallen firefighter memorial to honor New Jersey’s proud history of firefighting service and the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the fire service.

     The commission is to consist of 12 members as follows: the Secretary of State or a designee; the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection or a designee; the Director of the Division of Fire Safety or a designee; two members who are currently serving as board members of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated; one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, each currently or previously affiliated with fire service or a State recognized fire association; one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, each currently or previously affiliated with an existing New Jersey museum or historical commission; and three members appointed by the Governor, including one member currently or previously affiliated with fire service or a State recognized fire association and one member currently or previously affiliated with an existing New Jersey museum or historical commission appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey State Museum in the Department of State.

     The New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial Commission would have the following rights and responsibilities:

·        to make, amend, and repeal rules and bylaws for its own governance and guidance not inconsistent with State and federal law;

·        to maintain an office within the State as it may designate;

·        to contract for, accept, solicit or collect any grants, loans, funds, property, or other aid in any form from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, from the State or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or from any other public source;

·        to exercise all of the powers, functions, and duties previously exercised by the former New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated, except as otherwise provided;

·        to make and enter into contracts, leases, agreements, and purchases necessary for the use, or incidental to the performance of, the commission's duties and the exercise of its powers;

·        to insure against any losses in connection with the commission's properties, operations, or assets;

·        to appoint the executive director of the commission and to formulate and adopt rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the commission, its officers, and employees;

·        to institute or cause to be instituted any legal proceedings or processes as may be necessary to properly enforce and give effect to any of the powers or duties of the executive director or the commission;

·        to develop an economic development master plan identifying the commission's objectives, policies, and programs which will encourage the museum’s attraction, expansion, and retention;

·        to support and maintain existing museum facilities and services for the educational or recreational use and benefit of the public;

·        to maintain exhibits and displays to promote and develop public interest and understanding of firefighter history; and

·        to develop, raise funds for, build and operate a fire museum, fire safety education center, and fallen firefighters memorial, and to provide for the display of fire apparatus and equipment, along with the history and documentation available for preservation; and

·        to determine the best course of action regarding museum collections both owned by and lent to the commission, including but not limiting to assuming control of all fire apparatus, or continuing any current ownerships agreements entered into by the former board of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated. 

     In addition, the bill provides that the former board of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum, Incorporated is to continue to operate in an advisory capacity to the commission and report directly to the executive director and commission. The former board is to advise the executive director and commission with respect to the history and future of the fire museum and fallen firefighter memorial on issues including, but not limited to:

·        maintenance of the fire apparatus collection and existing museum facilities;

·        museum facility expansion, development, and strategic planning;

·        marketing, budget and fundraising issues;

·        educational and recreational programs held at the museum facilities; and

·        plans and preparations for preservation and restoration of museum collection pieces.