Bill Text: NJ AJR248 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-02 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [AJR248 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR248-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 248

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 2, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblyman  HERB CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


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

 

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

 

     1.  a.  There is established a task force to be known as the "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force" to assess and make recommendations to the Executive Branch and the Legislature on how to address the growing number of cybersecurity threats in the State against New Jersey residents and businesses.

     The task force recommendations, at a minimum, shall address the best practices and procedures to:

     (1)  identify potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities;

     (2)  mitigate risk and prevent cyber breaches; and

     (3)  recover from cybersecurity threats.

     b.    The task force shall consist of 11 members as follows:

     (1)  the Attorney General, or a designee;

     (2)  the supervising officer of the High Tech Crimes Unit in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or a designee from the State Police;

     (3)  the Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, or a designee;

     (4)   the Head of the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell;

     (5)  the Senate President, or a designee;

     (6)  the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; and

     (7)  five public members, appointed by the Governor, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey League of Municipalities; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; and a faculty member from a higher education institution in this State with expertise in information technology, data protection, and cybersecurity.

     c.     The members of the task force shall be appointed and shall hold their initial organizational meeting within 45 days after the effective date of this act.  At the initial organizational meeting, the members shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members of the task force by a majority vote.  The task force may appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the task force.

     d.    Members of the task force shall serve without compensation; however, the five public members appointed by the Governor shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task for its purposes.

     e.     Any vacancy in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

     f.     The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the officials and employees of the State and its political subdivisions and their departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, and agencies as it may require and as may be available to it for the purposes of the task force.  The Department of Law and Public Safety shall provide staff support services to the task force.

     g.    The task force shall report 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 one year following the initial organizational meeting of the task force.  The task force shall expire upon the submission of its report, pursuant to this section.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire after the task force submits its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes a "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force." to assess and make recommendations to the Executive Branch and the Legislature on how to address the growing number of cybersecurity threats in the State against New Jersey residents and businesses.

     The task force recommendations, at a minimum, must address the best practices and procedures to:

     (1)  identify potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities;

     (2)  mitigate risk and prevent cyber breaches; and

     (3)  recover from cybersecurity threats.

Under the bill, the task force shall consist of 11 members as follows:

     (1)  the Attorney General, or a designee;

     (2)  the supervising officer of the High Tech Crimes Unit in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or a designee from the State Police;

     (3)  the Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, or a designee;

     (4)  the Head of the New Jersey New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell;

     (5)  the Senate President, or a designee;

     (6)  the Speaker of the General Assembly, or a designee; and

     (7)  five public members, appointed by the Governor, as follows: one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey League of Municipalities; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants; one person upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; and a faculty member from a higher education institution with expertise in information technology, data protection, and cybersecurity.

     The bill directs the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following its initial organizational meeting.  The task force would expire upon the submission of its report.

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