ASSEMBLY SENIOR ISSUES, TOURISM AND GAMING COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 714

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 3, 1997

 

      The Assembly Senior Issues, Tourism and Gaming Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 714 (1R).

      This bill provides that a member of a State authority or commission, including an authority or commission created pursuant to statute and having members appointed by the Governor but excluding a body created solely for study, investigative or advisory purposes, shall forfeit the member's position as the result of unexcused absences for three or more consecutive regularly scheduled meetings or twenty-five percent or more of the total number of regularly scheduled meetings held annually.

      To be "officially excused" from a meeting, a member must account in writing for the absence before or within ten working days after the meeting or meetings missed to the presiding member of the authority, and the account must be approved by a majority of the members.

      The provisions of the bill do not apply to an ex officio member of an authority or commission, to a member of the Legislature or to a member of a State authority or commission who is appointed by an officer or official of the federal government.

      Under current law, no penalties are imposed on a member of an authority or commission for unexcused absences from meetings of the authority or commission.