Bill Text: NJ A1362 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DOT and OIT to develop materials concerning capabilities of airports in NJ and establishes "Public Use Airports Task Force."
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-16 - Withdrawn from Consideration [A1362 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1362-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Freiman, Auth, Thomson and Assemblywoman McKnight
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOT and OIT to develop materials concerning capabilities of airports in NJ and establishes "Public Use Airports Task Force."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning New Jersey airports and supplementing P.L.1938, c.48 (C.6:1-20 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with geographic information systems staff from the Office of Information Technology, shall, within 180 days of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), produce a comprehensive and current directory of airports in New Jersey. The Department of Transportation and the Office of Information Technology shall produce the directory in print and electronic formats and develop an accompanying mobile application for the directory. The directory shall include maps and information on the capabilities of each airport and landing facility in this State.
b. The Department of Transportation shall update the directory produced pursuant to this section at least once every five years.
2. a. There is established in the Department of Transportation the Public Use Airports Task Force.
b. The task force shall be comprised of 21 members, as follows:
(1) two members of the Senate Transportation Committee, appointed by the President of the Senate, and two members of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and no more than one appointment from each committee shall be of the same political party;
(2) the Commissioner of Transportation, or the Commissioner of Transportation's designee
(3) the Commissioner of Education, or the Commissioner of Education' s designee; and
(4) the following members appointed by the Governor:
(a) one public member with a background in higher education administration;
(b) one public member who is a representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association;
(c) one public member who is a representative of the New Jersey Education Association;
(d) one public member with a background as a high school guidance counselor;
(e) one public member who holds a flight instructor certificate with a seaplane rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration;
(f) one public member who holds a mechanic certificate, with airframe and powerplant privileges, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration;
(g) one public member who is an attorney with expertise in the aerospace industry;
(h) one public member who is a personnel recruiter for an airline;
(i) one public member who has served as a recruiter for a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States;
(j) one public member who is a senior member of the New Jersey Wing of the Civil Air Patrol of the United States Air Force Auxiliary;
(k) one public member who previously served as a member of the General Aviation Study Commission, created pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.336;
(l) one public member who is affiliated with the New Jersey Aviation Association;
(m) one public member who is an aviator with a background in science, technology, engineering, or math education; and
(n) two public members who are representatives of public use airports in this State.
c. In making appointments to the task force, the President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, and Governor shall give priority to individuals who hold an airmen certification issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or another piloting credential, as determined by the Department of Transportation. All appointments shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
d. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members, and may meet and hold hearings at such places and times as it shall designate.
e. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, within the limits of funds made available to the task force, for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
f. The department may provide professional and clerical staff to the task force as may be necessary for the task force's purposes, and the task force may also be entitled to call upon the services of any State, county, or municipal department, board, commission, or agency, as may be available to it for its purposes.
g. In executing its duties under section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the task force may consult with associations, organizations, and individuals who are knowledgeable about the topics and industries evaluated by and subject to the recommendations of the task force.
h. The
task force may solicit and receive grants and other funds that are made
available for the task force's purposes by any governmental, public, private,
not-for-profit, or for-profit agency, including funds that are made available
under any federal or State law, regulation, or program.
3. a. The Public Use Airports Task Force established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall:
(1) evaluate the existing operations of public use airports in this State, including projections for continued operational sustainability of public use airports based upon current and expected market conditions;
(2) develop recommendations for infrastructure initiatives and transit programs to meet current and expected market demand for different classifications of aircraft and air transport components;
(3) develop recommendations for policy changes to support the continued operation of public use airports in this State, including, but not limited to, recommendations for changes to tax structures, changes to State and political subdivision regulation of public use airports, the alteration of current State programs, and the development of new programs to ensure the continued sustainability of public use airports in New Jersey;
(4) develop State and local strategies and recommendations for growing aerospace industry sectors in the State and ensuring the economic viability of public use airports in New Jersey, including the education and training of new pilots;
(5) complete a survey of successful educational programs, that meet or exceed applicable federal requirements, for the training of new pilots and aerospace industry mechanics;
(6) develop recommendations to expand pilot training and incentivize aerospace innovation in this State;
(7) develop recommendations for the establishment of new education programs, flight training programs, and aerospace internships in this State to contribute to the sustainability and expansion of public use airports and the aerospace industry in this State;
(8) develop recommendations, including specific mechanisms, for the State, local governments, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders to share information and collaborate to expand research and development within the aerospace industry in this State;
(9) develop recommendations for specific initiatives to increase investment and public interest in aviation and the aerospace industry in this State;
(10) evaluate the current operations and performance of the Department of Transportation in the oversight of the State's public use airports, and develop recommendations for the reorganization or realignment of the department;
(11) analyze the current assurance requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on owners, sponsors, planning organizations, and other organizations that accept funds from certain financial assistance programs administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, and develop recommendations to increase the amounts of federal assistance received by public use airports in this State;
(12) study, with the assistance of the Department of Education and the New Jersey State Library, the potential for establishing a coordinated State program that accurately represents the development and importance of the State's airport and aviation heritage;
(13) develop and disseminate recommendations and strategies that public use airports in this State can utilize to realize cost-savings and operational efficiencies through the development and deployment of environmentally responsible, modular infrastructure;
(14) study, with the assistance of the Secretary of Higher Education, the potential and cost expectations for the development of an enhanced aerospace transportation navigation system for the State's public use airports, that includes object avoidance technology and technology for monitoring weather and air traffic;
(15) develop recommendations, tools, and strategies to help ensure the adequate financing of aerospace businesses, flying clubs, and flight schools in this State, without regard for operational or organizational structure under federal or State law;
(16) develop recommendations to assist the continued advancement of public use airports as community assets and sources of business expansion in this State ;
(17) analyze the feasibility of allowing seaplanes to land in any appropriately-sized body of water and, within 60 calendar days of the first meeting of the task force, make recommendations for those bodies of water that are to be opened immediately to seaplane use in the State unless the State or a local government specifically prohibits the landing of a seaplane on the specific body of water; and
(18) develop recommendations for the removal of obstructions in and around public use airports, including restricting the height to which structures or trees may be erected or allowed to grow, to increase public safety.
b. The task force shall present a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature no later than 24 months after the organization of the task force.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a temporary Public Use Airports Task Force (task force) within the Department of Transportation (department). The department, in conjunction with geographic information systems staff from the Office of Information Technology, is required to produce a comprehensive and current directory of airports in New Jersey in print, electronic, and mobile application formats. The bill requires that the directory include maps of and information on the capabilities of each airport and landing facility in this State. The bill also requires the department to update the directory at least once every five years.
The task force is to be composed of 21 members, as described in the bill. The task force is required to evaluate, survey, analyze, and study various aspects of the operation and value of public use airports and evaluate the continued development of the aviation and aerospace industries in the State. The task force is also required to develop certain recommendations for the advancement of public use airports, flight training, and the aviation and aerospace industries in the State. The bill requires the task force to present a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 24 months after the organization of the task force.
