Bill Text: NJ A481 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases number of commissioners on Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor to six; changes process for appointment of commissioners.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A481 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A481-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Johnson
SYNOPSIS
Increases number of commissioners on Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor to six; changes process for appointment of commissioners.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the board of commissioners of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor and amending the "Waterfront Commission Act," approved June 30, 1953 (P.L.1953, c.202).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Paragraph 2 of Article III of section 1 of the compact created by P.L.1953, c.202 (C.32:23-8) is amended to read as follows:
The commission shall consist of [four] six members, [two] three to be chosen by the State of New Jersey and [two] three to be chosen by the State of New York. The members representing each [State] state shall be appointed by the Governor of the state as follows: one by the Governor of [such State] that state with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof [,] ; one upon recommendation from the presiding officer of the Senate of that state; and one upon recommendation from the presiding officer of the Assembly of that state. The members shall serve without regard to the [State] state of residence of [such] the members, and shall receive compensation to be fixed by the Governor of [such] that State. The term of office of each member shall be for [4] four years; provided, however, that: the [two present members of the commission heretofore appointed shall continue to serve as members until the expiration of the respective terms for which they were appointed, that the term of the two new members shall expire on June 30, 1973, and that the term of the successors to the present members shall expire on June 30, 1975] present member of the commission from each state shall continue to serve as a member with a term that shall expire on the third June 30 following the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and the remaining two appointments from each state to be made pursuant to P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and upon recommendation from the presiding officer of the Senate and Assembly of each state, shall serve an initial term that shall expire on the fifth June 30 following the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Each member shall hold office until [his] the member's successor has been appointed and qualified. Vacancies in office shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments.
(cf: P.L.1970, c.58, s.2)
2. Paragraph 3 of Article III of section 1 of the compact created by P.L.1953, c.202 (C.32:23-9) is amended to read as follows:
[Three] Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum; but the commission shall act only by a majority vote of all its members. Any member may, by written instrument filed in the office of the commission, designate any officer or employee of the commission to act in [his] the member's place as a member whenever [he] the member shall be unable to attend a meeting of the commission. A vacancy in the office of a member shall not impair such designation until the vacancy shall have been filled. The commission shall elect one of its members to serve as chairman for a term of [1] one year [; provided, however, that the term of the first chairman shall expire on June 30, 1971]. The chairman shall represent a [State] state other than the [State] state represented by the immediately preceding chairman.
(cf: P.L.1970, c.58, s.3)
3. The Governor is authorized to enter into a supplemental compact or agreement, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, with the State of New York amending the compact created by P.L.1953, c.202.
4. This act shall take effect upon the enactment of substantially similar legislation by the State of New York, but if the State of New York shall have already enacted legislation of similar substance and effect of this act, this act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill increases the number of commissioners on the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (commission) from two to six. New Jersey and New York are each to appoint three commissioners. The commissioners from each state are to be appointed as follows: one by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; one upon recommendation from the presiding officer of the Senate; and one upon recommendation from the presiding officer of the Assembly.
The existing member of the commission from each state is to continue to serve as a commissioner until the third June 30 following the date of enactment. The presiding officers of the Senate and Assembly in each state are authorized to recommend an individual to be appointed as a commissioner with a term that expires on the fifth June 30 following the date of enactment. Thereafter, commissioners are to serve for terms of four years. The bill also changes the number of commissioners required for a quorum to four.
This bill amends the compact entered into by the State of New Jersey and the State of New York in 1953 creating the commission. In 1970, both New York and New Jersey enacted legislation to amend the compact, but those laws were never ratified by the United States Congress. Until ratified by Congress, the 1970 laws are not binding on the commission, although reflected in New Jersey and New York under the current law. Accordingly, this bill amends sections 2 and 3 of P.L.1970, c.58 to increase the number of commissioners to six, to change the number of commissioners required for a quorum to four, and to change the process for the appointment of commissioners.
