Bill Text: NJ AJR115 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Creates the "New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [AJR115 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-AJR115-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 115

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 11, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  GARY S. SCHAER

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  TIM EUSTACE

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblyman  GORDON M. JOHNSON

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  NANCY J. PINKIN

District 18 (Middlesex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Gusciora, Coughlin and Conaway

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Creates the "New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended by the General Assembly on December 3, 2015.

 

A Joint Resolution establishing the "New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force."

 

Whereas, The biotechnology industry plays a pivotal role in the New Jersey economy, representing thousands of jobs and hundreds of companies in the State and billions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue each year; and

Whereas, Part of the reason that the industry has played such a key role in the State is due to the activities of the Joint Legislative Task Force on Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Development Task Force created in the early 1990s by the New Jersey Legislature; and

Whereas, These legislative task forces fostered increased communication between the New Jersey Legislature and the biotechnology industry, culminating in initiatives to bolster the industry in the State; and

Whereas, For example, in 1995 the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, the "New Jersey High Technology and Biotechnology Industry Promotion Act," P.L.1995, c.277 (C.52:9X-9.1 et seq.), which established a program to promote biotechnology and other high technology industries in New Jersey and to attract biotechnology and other high technology companies to the State; and

Whereas, Since the early 1990s, when New Jersey had approximately 50 biotechnology companies located in the State, that number has increased to 379 companies, including many of the largest biotechnology companies in the world locating their operations and headquarters in the State; and

Whereas, New Jersey has been on the forefront in attracting biotechnology businesses to the State and it is in the State's interest to continue to remain on the forefront of this growing industry in the future; and

Whereas, Due to the pivotal role this industry plays in the State in terms of economic activity, jobs, and tax revenues, it is important that the State government study ways in which to retain and attract new companies in the biotechnology industry into the State and increase communication between State government and the industry; now, therefore,

 

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

 

     1.    a.  There is established the "New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force."

     b.    The purpose of the task force shall be to communicate with the biotechnology industry and develop recommendations for actions the Legislature and State can take to retain and attract new biotechnology companies to the State.

 

     2.    a.  The task force shall be comprised of nine members, as follows:

     (1)   Two members appointed by the Senate President who shall be members of the Senate;

     (2)   One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate who shall be a member of the Senate;

     (3)   Two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly who shall be members of the General Assembly;

     (4)   One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly who shall be a member of the General Assembly;

     (5)   The Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, who shall serve ex officio; and

     (6)   Two public members, appointed by the Governor, from among a list of nominees provided by BioNJ, Inc.

     Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

     b.    The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members and appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

     c.     The members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force.

     d.    The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.

 

      3.   The task force shall issue ¹[reports] a final report¹ of its activities, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislation or administrative action, to the Governor ¹[, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and General Assembly, with the first report being issued]  and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1)¹ no later than ¹[one year after the date of enactment of this resolution] December 31, 2017¹.

 

      4.   This joint resolution shall take effect immediately ¹and shall expire upon the issuance of the final report of the task force as provided in section 3 of this joint resolution¹.