SENATE, No. 404

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 18, 1996

 

 

By Senator BRYANT

 

 

An Act establishing an Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

    1. There is established an Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs to consist of 10 members: two members appointed by the President of the Senate from among the members thereof, not more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly from among the members thereof, not more than one of whom shall be of the same political party; the Commissioner of Community Affairs, or the commissioner's designee; and five public members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who are residents of the State and who represent the African-American community within the State. Legislative members shall serve during their terms of office. Public members shall serve for a term of three years from the date of their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified; except that of the first appointments hereunder: one shall be for a term of one year, two for two years, and two for three years. Vacancies resulting from causes other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

 

    2. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

 

    3. The commission shall select from among its members a chairperson and also shall select a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

 

    4. It shall be the duty of the commission to advise the Governor and the Legislature on the needs, concerns, accomplishments and contributions of New Jersey's African-Americans, as well as of the possible impact of legislation affecting the State's African-American community. The commission shall elicit input from the African-American community by arranging for the commission, or a subcommittee thereof, to visit community centers, meet with community leaders, attend and sponsor community meetings and take other similar actions. A subcommittee formed by the commission for this purpose shall consist of five members: two legislative members, not more than one of whom shall be from the same political party; and three public members all of whom shall be appointed by the chairperson of the commission from the members thereof. Any such subcommittee shall report to the commission, at the request of the chairperson, on its findings and recommendations.

 

    5. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the 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 to carry out its purposes, and to employ such stenographic, clerical, technical and expert assistance and incur travel and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary, in order to perform its duties and as may be within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it to accomplish its objectives.

 

    6. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill establishes an Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs to advise the Governor and the Legislature on the needs, concerns, accomplishments and contributions of New Jersey's African-Americans, and of the possible impact of legislation affecting the State's African-American community.

 

 

                             

Establishes an Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs.