ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 81
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MAY 30, 1996
By Assemblymen COHEN and DALTON
A Concurrent Resolution establishing the Legislative Task Force on Economic Growth.
Whereas, During the 1980s and 1990s, New Jersey manufacturing employment declined every year except for one and was subject to much greater reductions than manufacturing employment at the national level; and
Whereas, Recent economic reports forecast further employment reductions in the manufacturing sector as well as a host of layoffs in the service sector, especially in the banking and telecommunications industries, both of which have a large presence in this State; and
Whereas, Tens of thousands of former industrial workers have not benefited from the State's overall growth, but have instead experienced prolonged unemployment, involuntary part-time work, or new jobs in the service sector, with some jobs providing inadequate benefits and much lower pay levels; and
Whereas, Although recent State initiatives have sought to assist businesses which are prone to experiencing large employment losses, there is still a need to formulate new and innovative initiatives in light of major corporate restructuring and "downsizing" in both the manufacturing and service sectors; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislative Task Force on Economic Growth is hereby established.
2. The members of the task force shall be appointed as follows: four members of the Senate, two to be appointed by the President of the Senate and two to be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and, four members of the General Assembly, two to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and two to be appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader. One member of the task force shall be elected as chairman.
3. The task force shall: a) study approaches to fostering general business retention, and expansion opportunities; b) study approaches to bolstering business development and growth; c) examine impediments to business establishment and development; and d) evaluate the State's high cost structure. The latter evaluation shall include, but not be limited to: business operating costs, such as the cost of property, labor, and energy; business and property taxes; and litigation costs for environmental, labor and health matters.
4. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members. The chairman shall appoint a vice chairman, and a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. The task force shall meet and hold hearings at any place or places it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.
5. The task force may request the assistance and services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes; may employ stenographic and clerical assistants; and may incur travel and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.
6. The task force shall, in a timely manner, report its findings and conclusions, including recommendations for legislation or for suggested administrative action, to the President of the Senate, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Assembly Minority Leader, the members of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee or its successor, and the members of the Assembly Commerce, Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee or its successor.
7. This task force shall expire upon the issuance of its report.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution establishes the Task Force on Economic Growth. The task force is composed of eight members as follows: four members of the Senate and four members of the General Assembly, appointed on a bi-partisan basis, and is charged in the resolution with studying approaches to fostering general business retention, and expansion opportunities; studying approaches to bolstering business development and growth; examining impediments to business establishment and development; and evaluating the State's high cost structure. The latter evaluation shall include, but not be limited to: business operating costs, such as the cost of property, labor, and energy; business and property taxes; and litigation costs for environmental, labor and health matters.
Establishes the Legislative Task Force on Economic Growth.