S144 1R

An Act establishing the “COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission.”

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

1. The Legislature finds and declares that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacted a terrible toll on the global community, the country, and this State. This global pandemic has claimed [over a million] millions of lives worldwide, including [many] the lives of frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers [that] who have displayed tremendous courage and dedication in their efforts to treat ¹and support¹ patients affected by the coronavirus disease 2019. Many of these ¹frontline and¹ healthcare workers, [from all different healthcare fields] including those [working in] providing healthcare services in police and fire departments, rose [above] beyond their usual scope of duties to combat multiple surges in the [surging] number of cases of coronavirus disease 2019, often with limited healthcare resources. As one of the early epicenters of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it is important for this State to memorialize the tragic consequences of the pandemic and recognize the immense loss of life suffered by this State.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is fitting and proper [and fitting] to establish a commission, to be known as the COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission, to design and oversee the construction of a memorial dedicated to the frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers [that] who have lost their lives treating ¹and supporting¹ patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

2. a. There is established [,] in, but not of, the Department of State, a commission known as the “COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission [,].” [for the purposes of honoring and recognizing] The purpose of the commission shall be to design and oversee the construction of a memorial that honors and recognizes the frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers [that] who lost their lives in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

b. The commission shall consist of nine public members, who shall be residents of the State and representative of frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers, including frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers in police and fire departments. The Speaker of the General Assembly, the Senate President, and the Governor shall each appoint three public members [of] to the commission.

c. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as is provided for the original appointments [are made] .

d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

e. The commission shall organize as soon as [may be] practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall elect from among its members a chairperson. The presence of five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

f. The commission [will] shall meet ¹[regularly] at least twice per year¹ [as the commission determines, or] at times and places determined by the commission, as well as at the call of the chairperson or a majority of commission’s membership.

g. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public. Agendas, minutes, documents, and testimony from all meetings shall be posted on the Department of State’s Internet website.

h. The commission [also] may request the assistance and services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, task force or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The Department of State shall provide staffing and administrative support to the commission.

3. a. The commission shall select a suitable design and location for the construction of a memorial dedicated to the frontline ¹and¹ healthcare workers [that] who lost their lives in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and shall determine appropriate methods of financing the construction and maintenance of the memorial. Following the selection of a design and specific location for the memorial and the receipt of sufficient funding, the commission shall oversee the construction of the memorial.

b. The commission may initiate fundraising measures and may receive monetary donations for the design, construction, and maintenance of the memorial. Any money received by the commission for these purposes shall be deposited in the fund established [by] pursuant to section 4 of this act.

c. ¹Not later than 30 days following the first meeting and each meeting thereafter, the commission shall prepare and submit a progress report on its activities to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

d.¹ Not later than 18 months following the effective date of this act, the commission shall prepare and submit a final report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature [, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a final report], which report shall include the final design selected for the memorial, the exact location selected for the memorial, and the amount of funding necessary for construction and maintenance of the memorial.

4. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a non-lapsing fund to be known as the “COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial Fund.” The fund shall be credited with any moneys received by the COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission as donations pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of this act and any moneys as may thereafter be donated or appropriated to the fund. All [interested] interest earned on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The moneys in the fund shall be administered by the State Treasurer and held in the fund until appropriated by law. No later than one year [,] following the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the State Treasurer shall certify to the Legislature and the [Commissioner of Environmental Protection] Secretary of State the total amount of moneys in the fund.

5. The act shall take effect immediately,and sections 1 through 3 of this act shall expire on the first day of the sixth month next following the completion of the [memorial, except for section 4, which shall remain in effect] COVID-19 Frontline ¹and¹ Healthcare Worker Memorial.