[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 645
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Assemblymen IMPREVEDUTO and FELICE
An Act creating 1[a Bioremediation] an Innovative Technologies1 Advisory Board and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is created in, but not of, the Department of Environmental Protection 1[a Bioremediation] an Innovative Technologies1 Advisory Board. Notwithstanding the allocation of the board within the department, the department or any employee thereof shall not exercise any control over the board.
b. The 1[Bioremediation] Innovative Technologies1 Advisory Board shall consist of nine members as follows: one member who shall be a representative from the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology; one member who shall be a representative from the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey; one member who shall be a professor at Cook College of Rutgers 1, the State1 University 1,1 and who shall have scientific knowledge on 1[bioremediation] remediation1 techniques and procedures; three members of the public, each of whom shall have an 1advanced1 engineering or 1[advanced] scientific1 degree 1and experience1 in 1[an area involving bioremediation procedures] remediation technologies1 ; and three members of the public, each of whom shall have experience in the use of 1[biotechnology] advanced or innovative technology1 in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites. The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members of the board shall serve three year terms except that of the members first appointed, three shall serve one year terms, three shall serve two year terms, and three shall serve three year terms. Members shall serve in their position until a successor has been duly appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. Members of the board may be removed for cause. Members of the board shall not be compensated for their service on the board but members may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent such sums are appropriated for this use by the Legislature.
c. The board shall select from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson who shall act for the chairperson in the chairperson's absence. The board shall develop rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. The board may meet upon the appointment and qualification of five of its members. The board shall meet at such time and place as the chairperson shall determine. Actions of the board shall be taken only by a majority of the full membership of the board.
d. It shall be the duty of the board to advise the Department of Environmental Protection on the use of 1[biotechnology techniques] innovative technologies1 and procedures in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites and to encourage the department to approve the use of 1[biotechnology] innovative1 techniques and procedures in hazardous discharge site remediations. The board may:
(1) prepare and submit any plans, reports, or documentation to the department concerning the use of 1[biotechnology] innovative1 techniques and procedures in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites;
(2) respond to any inquiries of the department concerning 1[biotechnology] innovative1 techniques and procedures;
(3) testify and submit written comments to the department or to any other State, federal, or local public entity concerning any proposed law, rule, regulation, or other public decision involving the use of 1[biotechnology] innovative1 techniques and procedures in the remediation of contaminated hazardous discharge sites; and
(4) hold any public hearings or meetings as necessary in order to solicit information concerning the use of 1[biotechnology] innovative1 in the remediation of contaminated hazardous discharge sites.
e. The board may avail itself of the services of employees or resources of the Department of Environmental Protection, any executive State department, or any county or municipal government to the extent those employees or resources are made available to the board.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Creates Innovative Technologies Advisory Board in DEP.