Bill Text: NJ A5718 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Living Lab Pilot Program."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-08-23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee [A5718 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A5718-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Living Lab Pilot Program."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the "Living Lab Pilot Program" and supplementing P.L.1985, c.102 (C.52:9X-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The "Living Lab Pilot Program" is established within the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. The purpose of the program is to encourage municipalities to designate areas as "living labs" for the purpose of testing innovative ideas and technologies in order to understand the capabilities and limitations of those ideas and technologies before deploying them on a larger scale.
b. The commission shall undertake a review of the use of living lab methodologies in municipalities around the world; develop expertise in living lab methodologies; and, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Community Affairs, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, establish parameters for the Living Lab Pilot Program, including criteria for the selection of project proposals to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program.
c. The commission shall select no more than four project proposals to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program. The commission shall select one proposal from each of the following geographic regions and project focus criteria:
(1) the northern region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on financial information technology, cybersecurity, or a combination thereof;
(2) the central region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on life sciences, biotechnology, or a combination thereof;
(3) the southern region of the State having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on agriculture, aviation, or a combination thereof; and
(4) the shore region of the State, having a primary, but not exclusive, focus on renewable energy and autonomous vehicles.
d. A municipality may submit to the commission an application to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program, in a form and manner determined by the commission. An application shall set forth a living lab project proposal addressing how the use of specific technology may help conserve critical resources, reduce consumption, reduce operational costs, increase pedestrian activity, stimulate economic development, or enhance public safety. An application shall:
(1) identify the boundaries of the proposed living lab project;
(2) identify public and private sector entities that have committed to collaborate in the living lab project;
(3) include a plan for the living lab project; and
(4) include any other information required by the commission.
e. The commission and the Department of Community Affairs shall publicize the Living Lab Pilot Program, and provide links to the application form and procedure, on the Internet websites of the commission and the department.
f. A living lab pilot program application may propose designation of all or part of a municipality as a living lab project area. Two or more municipalities may jointly apply for selection of an area encompassing all or part of the applicant municipalities as a living lab project area. An application shall not be submitted unless authorized by adoption of a resolution of the governing body of the municipality, or, in the event of a joint application, the adoption of parallel resolutions by the governing bodies of the municipalities.
g. Within 60 calendar days of its receipt of a complete application to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program, the commission shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application.
h. In consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the commission shall develop guidance and standards for municipalities to implement living lab projects.
i. (1) Within one year of the approval of an application to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program, a municipality selected to participate in the program shall deliver a report on the living lab project to the commission. The report shall include information that may be required by the commission to enable the commission to provide recommendations to the Legislature. The commission shall review each report and formulate recommendations and, if appropriate, legislative proposals as to whether to expand, modify, or end the Living Lab Pilot Program.
(2) Within six months after the date of receipt of the final municipal report required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the commission shall report its findings, along with any recommendations and legislative proposals it may make, to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the "Living Lab Pilot Program" within the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. The program would encourage municipalities to designate areas as "living labs" for the purpose of testing innovative ideas and technologies in order to understand the capabilities and limitations of those ideas and technologies before deploying them on a larger scale. The bill directs the commission, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to develop guidance and standards for municipalities to implement living lab projects.
The pilot program would be limited to four living lab projects: one in the northern part of the State, focusing on financial information technology, cybersecurity, or a combination thereof; one in the central part of the State, focusing on life sciences, biotechnology, or a combination thereof; one in the southern part of the State, focusing on agriculture, aviation, or a combination thereof; and one in the shore part of the State, focusing on renewable energy and autonomous vehicles.
Under the bill, one or more municipalities may submit an application to the commission to participate in the pilot program. Prior to submission of an application the municipality or municipalities must adopt a resolution or parallel resolutions authorizing submission of the application.
An application would set forth a living lab project proposal addressing how the use of specific technology may help conserve critical resources, reduce consumption, reduce operational costs, increase pedestrian activity, stimulate economic development, or enhance public safety. An application would: identify the boundaries of the proposed living lab project; identify public and private sector entities that have committed to collaborate in the living lab project; include a plan for the living lab project; and include any other information required by the commission.
Within one year of its selection to participate in the Living Lab Pilot Program, a municipality must prepare and deliver a report on the living lab project to the commission. The report shall include information to enable the commission to provide recommendations to the Legislature as to whether to expand, modify, or end the Living Lab Pilot Program. Within six months after the date it receives the last required report from a program participant, the commission must report its findings, along with any recommendations and legislative proposals, to the Governor and the Legislature.
