ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 854

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 3, 1996

      The Assembly Commerce and Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly, No.854.

      This bill establishes a Korean Veterans' Memorial Committee in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and creates a Korean Veterans' Memorial Fund in the Department of the Treasury.

      The committee consists of 15 members: the Secretary of State and the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, or their respective designees, who shall serve ex officio; two members of the Senate, no more than one of whom shall be from the same political party; two members of the General Assembly, no more than one of whom shall be from the same political party; eight members of recognized veterans groups in this State, to be appointed by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor; and one public member who is a resident of this State, to be appointed by the Adjutant General with the approval of the Governor. In appointing members of veterans groups to serve on the committee, the Adjutant General shall give a preference to Korean War veterans.

      The committee shall:

      1) select a suitable location for the construction of a Korean Veterans' Memorial;

      2) determine the appropriate methods of financing the construction and maintenance of the memorial; and

      3) develop and administer a competition for the design of the memorial.

      The Korean Veterans' Memorial Fund shall receive all moneys donated or appropriated by law for the purposes of this act. The committee may initiate fund-raising measures and may receive monetary donations for the memorial. All moneys received by the committee shall be deposited into the fund.

      The bill also provides immunity to committee members for liability for damages resulting from the exercise of their judgement or discretion in connection with the duties of the office, unless the actions evidence a reckless disregard for the rules imposed by the position.

      The bill appropriates $25,000 from the General Fund to the committee for its purposes.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to increase the number of members of recognized veterans groups serving on the Korean Veterans' Memorial Committee from four to eight. This would increase the commission's total membership to 15. The amendment provides that in selecting members of veterans groups to serve on the committee, the Adjutant General shall give a preference to Korean War veterans. It also reduces from $50,000 to $25,000 the amount appropriated from the General Fund to the committee for its purposes. The amendments conform the bill to Senate, No.198(1R).