SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

 

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 5075

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2021

 

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably the Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 5075 (1R), with committee amendments.

      As amended and reported by the committee, the Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 5075 removes the New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighters Memorial from the auspices of the Department of Environmental Protection and requires it to be reorganized and established as an independent, non-profit organization.  The museum is to oversee the 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. Under the substitute, the museum collection donated by Ernest Day is to be transferred from the Department of Environmental Protection and placed in the custody of the New Jersey Fire Museum and Fallen Firefighters Memorial. 

      The substitute requires the museum to be operated by a board of directors, which 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 federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof; from the State or any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof; or from any other public source;

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

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

·         to formulate and adopt rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the board, 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 board;

·         to develop an economic development master plan identifying the board'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;

·         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;

·         to determine the best course of action regarding museum collections both owned by and lent to the museum including, but not limited to, continuing any current ownership agreements or memorandums of understanding entered into by the board prior to the substitute’s enactment;

·         to oversee museum facility expansion, development, and strategic planning;

·         to address marketing, budget, and fundraising issues;

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

·         to make plans and preparations for preservation and restoration of museum collection pieces; and

·         to partner with affiliate organizations to borrow and lend temporary or permanent museum collections and to raise funds with these affiliate organizations, which may include, but not be limited to, other museums and similar educational or research facilities. 

      The substitute allows the board of directors to be dissolved upon a majority vote of its members.  Upon dissolution of the board, any collections that were donated to the museum prior to or following the substitute’s effective date are to be returned to the original donors in accordance with existing ownership agreements or memorandums of understanding.  Museum collections that were otherwise acquired or purchased as State property are to be placed in the custody of the Executive Director of the New Jersey Historical Commission in the Department of State upon dissolution of the board.  The executive director is required to determine the appropriate course of action in housing or maintaining the collection.  

      Finally, the substitute provides a $200,000 supplemental appropriation  to the board of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum to carry out its purposes.

      As amended, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 4001, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments remove from the bill provisions establishing the composition of the board of directors of the New Jersey Museum and Fallen Firefighters Memorial and placing certain restrictions on board member appointments. 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring fiscal note.