ASSEMBLY, No. 275

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblymen BATEMAN and DeCROCE

An Act providing for the annual Governor's Air and Space Medal award, establishing an Air and Space Medal Nominating Committee and supplementing Title 6 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. a. Each year during the month of May, Aviation Awareness Month, an award shall be presented by the Governor or the Governor's designee, in a public ceremony, to an individual currently or formerly residing in this State, or to an organization located in the State of New Jersey, in recognition of the individual's or organization's outstanding achievement in aeronautics or space exploration. This award shall be known as the Governor's Air and Space Medal, hereinafter, "the medal."

    b. Nominations for the medal may be submitted by any individual in the State, at any time during the year, to the Executive Director of Aeronautics, in the Division of Aeronautics in the Department of Transportation, hereinafter, "the executive director," with a written statement setting forth the reasons for the nomination.

    2. a. There is established, in the Division of Aeronautics in the Department of Transportation, a committee to be known as the Governor's Air and Space Medal Nominating Committee, hereinafter the "nominating committee," which shall review and evaluate the candidates from the nominations submitted pursuant to section 1 of this act, and recommend one candidate to the Governor who shall present the medal to that candidate pursuant to this act. The nominating committee shall consist of seven members as follows: the executive director, ex officio, or the designee thereof, as a voting member, and the following six public members appointed by the Governor: a member of the New Jersey Aviation Advisory Council; a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey; a trustee of the Air Victory Museum; a representative of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition; a representative of Aero New Jersey; and a journalist or author who writes extensively on aviation issues.

    b. Each appointed public member shall serve for a term of five years, except that, of those first appointed, two shall serve for a term of two years, two shall serve for a term of three years, and two shall serve for a term of five years, as the Governor may designate upon appointment.

    c. Each appointed public member shall hold office for the term of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. A member shall be eligible for reappointment. Any vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

    d. Each appointed public member may be removed by the Governor for cause after a public hearing and may be suspended by the Governor pending the completion of the hearing. The initial public members shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of this act.

    e. The executive director shall serve as chairman of the nominating committee. Meetings of the nominating committee shall be held at such times and places as directed by the executive director.

    f. The members of the nominating committee shall serve without compensation, but the nominating committee may reimburse its members for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, within the limits of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, no member of the nominating committee shall be deemed to have forfeited nor shall that member forfeit the member's office or employment or any benefits or emoluments thereof by reason of the member's service as ex officio member of the nominating committee.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill establishes an award to be known as the Governor's Air and Space Medal which is to be presented annually be the Governor, or the Governor's designee, during the month of May, which is "Aviation Awareness Month." The medal is to be presented to a current or former resident of this State, or to an organization located in the State, in recognition of the individual's or organization's outstanding achievement in aeronautics or space exploration.

    The bill also establishes, in the Division of Aeronautics in the Department of Transportation, a committee to be known as the Governor's Air and Space Medal Nominating Committee, which is to review and evaluate the candidates from the nominations submitted. The nominating committee is to consist of seven members as follows: the Executive Director of Aeronautics in the Division of Aeronautics in the Department of Transportation, ex officio, who shall serve as chairman, and six public members to be appointed by the Governor, who shall include a member of the New Jersey Aviation Advisory Council, a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, a trustee of the Air Victory Museum, a representative of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition, a representative of Aero New Jersey, and a journalist or author who writes extensively on aviation issues. The Governor is to make the award to the one candidate recommended by the committee.

Establishes annual Governor's Air and Space Medal award.