Bill Text: NJ AR43 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitutes special committee of General Assembly entitled "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [AR43 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AR43-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Constitutes special committee of General Assembly entitled "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution constituting a special committee of the General Assembly entitled the "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood.
Whereas, On or about September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida passed over the State of New Jersey, triggering flash flood warnings in various parts of the State; and
Whereas, In the Borough of Bound Brook, a flood control system was installed in recent years with the assistance of the federal government at a cost of approximately $300 million; and
Whereas, Despite this sophisticated flood control system, which includes thousands of feet of levees and flood walls, pump stations, and three flood gates, the Borough of Bound Brook was overcome with flooding from the storm on or about September 1, 2021; and
Whereas, The reason that the flood control system failed appears to be due to the fact that a New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) train blocked one of the flood gates, preventing the flood gate from closing; and
Whereas, As a result, the Borough of Bound Brook experienced flooding that caused damage to residences and businesses and otherwise threatened public health and safety; and
Whereas, It is therefore necessary and altogether fitting and proper for the General Assembly, through an appropriate committee, to examine NJ Transit's role in the failure of the flood control system to work properly and the subsequent flooding of the Borough of Bound Brook; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is constituted a special committee of the General Assembly entitled the "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood," comprised of eight members of the General Assembly. The eight members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, not more than five of whom shall be of the same political party. There shall be a chair and vice-chair of the special committee appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly from among the members appointed to the committee.
2. The Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood, for the purpose of preventing future failures of the Bound Brook flood control system, may examine all aspects of the finances, operations, and management of the New Jersey Transit Corporation connected to the corporation's involvement in the flooding in the Borough of Bound Brook and any surrounding areas arising out of the failure of the flood gates in Bound Brook on or about September 1, 2021, and take necessary legislative action to ensure that New Jersey Transit involvement in the Bound Brook flood control system cannot prevent the system from serving its intended flood control purposes in the future.
3. The Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of the State of New Jersey, any political subdivision of the State, and any agency thereof, as may be required and as may be available for that purpose, and to employ any other services as may be deemed necessary, in order to perform the duties provided herein, and within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution establishes a special committee of the General Assembly entitled the "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood" (committee). The committee is authorized, for the purpose of preventing future failures of the Borough of Bound Brook (Bound Brook) flood control system, to examine all aspects of the finances, operations, and management of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) connected to the corporation's involvement in the flooding in Bound Brook and any surrounding areas arising out of the failure of the flood gates located in Bound Brook on or about September 1, 2021. The committee is also authorized to take necessary legislative action to ensure future involvement of the corporation in the Bound Brook flood control system will not prevent the system from serving its intended flood control purposes.
