Bill Text: NJ A804 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Allows certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on agencies' websites as pilot program.*

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-06-11 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [A804 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-A804-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 804

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  CRAIG J. COUGHLIN

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman  TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  SHAVONDA E. SUMTER

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Diegnan

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Allows certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on agencies' websites as pilot program.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on June 11, 2015, with amendments.

 

An Act allowing certain State agencies to sell Internet advertisements on the agencies' websites ¹as a pilot program¹  and supplementing chapter 32 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    The Legislature finds that State agency websites provide timely and useful information to the public about State agency programs and services.  These websites are informative in nature and do not serve as a public forum or a limited public forum for the discussion or exchange of ideas.  The Legislature further finds that allowing State agencies to sell Internet advertisements for display on their web pages could provide new sources of revenue for the State, particularly for those State agencies that maintain high-traffic web pages.  Therefore, the Legislature intends to allow a limited number of State agencies to establish a pilot program to sell Internet advertisements for display on their websites, provided that the advertisements are consistent with the business mission of the agency as well as any Internet advertisement guidelines adopted by the agency.

 

     2.    Beginning 90 days following the enactment of P.L.     , c.     , (C.     )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Economic Development Authority  ¹[, the New Jersey Transit Corporation,]¹  and the New Jersey Lottery, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, each shall establish a  ¹[two-year] three-year¹  pilot program to begin selling Internet advertisements for display on those agencies websites.  In locations where Internet advertisements are offered on a State agency web page, the web page shall also include a disclaimer, indicating that the inclusion of Internet advertisements does not imply endorsement by the State.

     Not later than  ¹[two years] three months¹  after the  ¹[establishment] conclusion¹  of the pilot program by the State agency, the agency shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program.  The report shall include a detailed summary of both the expenditures made and the revenues produced under the program, as well as recommendations concerning whether to continue the program.

     For the purposes of P.L.    , c.    (C.   )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), "Internet advertisement" means specific advertising methods on the Internet, including display or banner advertisements, sponsorships, and business listings where goods or services may be purchased online.

 

     3.    Prior to selling Internet advertisements, a State agency shall develop policy, style, and content guidelines for Internet advertisements that ensure that the subject matter of any Internet advertisement displayed by the agency directly relates to the business mission and purpose of the agency.  The head of the agency, to the maximum extent practicable, shall enter into contracts for Internet advertisements with businesses based in this State, unless the head of the agency determines it to be inconsistent with the public interest.

 

     4.    Revenue generated from the sale of Internet advertisements under P.L.    , c.   (C.     ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be deposited into the State General Fund by the State agencies named in section 2 of P.L.    , c.   (C.      ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for which expenditures are authorized through the State annual appropriations act.  There shall be appropriated annually such funds as are determined to be necessary to each such agency for the incremental cost of offering Internet advertisements and an additional ten percent of such revenue generated by that agency for the purpose of innovation in operations, programs or services.

     For the agencies not funded through the State annual appropriations act, the agency shall remit to the State Treasurer such revenue generated from the sale of Internet advertisements as shall remain after deductions by the agency for the incremental cost of offering Internet advertisements and of an additional ten percent for the purpose of innovation in operations, programs or services.

 

     5. This act shall take effect immediately  ¹and shall expire upon the submission of the report required pursuant to section 2 of this act¹.