Bill Text: NJ S1972 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Moves "Main Street New Jersey Program" from Department of Community Affairs to Deparment of State.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S1972 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S1972-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DIANE B. ALLEN
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Moves "Main Street New Jersey Program" from Department of Community Affairs to Department of State.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the administration of the "Main Street New Jersey" program, supplementing chapter 16A of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, amending P.L.2003, c.292, and amending and repealing parts of P.L.2001, c.452.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) a. There is continued in the Department of State the "Main Street New Jersey" program, as initially created pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.238, as a comprehensive revitalization program to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in the State. The purpose of the program shall be to provide small business assistance services to local downtown communities, including business owners and entrepreneurs, with a long-term goal of revitalizing local downtown central business district areas.
b. The Secretary of State shall administer the "Main Street New Jersey" program continued under subsection a. of this section. The duties of the department in implementing this program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) employment, in the State classified service, of a State Coordinator and staff for the "Main Street New Jersey" program;
(2) entering into contracts with the National Main Street Center and others to assist in accomplishing the program's objectives and provide technical assistance to the "Main Street New Jersey" program and local programs;
(3) development of a plan, with the assistance of the Main Street New Jersey Advisory Board established pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), describing the objectives of the "Main Street New Jersey" program and detailing the methods by which the department shall coordinate the activities of the program with private and public sector revitalization of local downtown central business district areas, solicit and use private sector funding for revitalization of local downtown central business district areas, and help municipalities engage in revitalization of their local downtown central business district areas; and
(4) coordination and cooperation with other State and local public and private entities that provide services to municipalities undertaking projects for the revitalization of local downtown central business district areas.
2. (New section) Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Secretary of State shall adopt rules and regulations governing the qualifications of applicants, the application procedures, and the criteria for providing assistance under the "Main Street New Jersey" program.
3. (New section) The Secretary of State shall provide assistance under this program to municipalities selected through a competitive application process. A municipality shall have historic architectural resources in a defined central business or commercial district, a commitment to employ a full-time Executive Director for its "Main Street New Jersey" program, establishment of a volunteer board of directors, development of public-private partnerships and a program operating budget deemed adequate by the secretary for not less than three years. A municipality having a population of not more than 20,000, according to the most recent federal decennial census, shall not be required to employ a full-time Executive Director for its program.
The secretary may also provide limited assistance through the "Main Street New Jersey" program to any municipality through training, technical assistance, and information on the revitalization of local central business districts.
4. (New section) The secretary shall provide services to each municipality selected to participate in the "Main Street New Jersey" program at no additional cost to the municipality. Those services shall include, but shall not be limited to:
a. In-depth volunteer and executive director training;
b. Advanced training on specific downtown issues, including but not limited to marketing, business recruitment, volunteer management and historic preservation;
c. Visits by professional consultants to help each municipality develop its strengths and plan for the success of its local downtown central business district areas;
d. Small business development consulting services for local business owners;
e. Marketing and public relations consulting for local businesses and "Main Street New Jersey" organizations;
f. Architectural design consulting for business and property owners;
g. Educational materials, including manuals and slide programs; and
h. Links to local, State, and federal "Main Street" community networks.
5. (New section) The Main Street New Jersey Advisory Board, as initially established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2001, c.238, is hereby continued in the Department of State for the purposes of providing guidance and advocacy in formulating policy and assisting with the long-term planning and administration of the "Main Street New Jersey" program. The Main Street New Jersey Advisory Board shall consist of 22 members. Sixteen members shall serve in a voluntary capacity, to be appointed through a process to be determined by the Secretary of State and shall include a representative of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Each voluntary member shall have a demonstrated commitment to the goals of the "Main Street New Jersey" program. The voluntary members shall represent all geographic regions of the State.
The remaining six advisory board members shall serve ex officio and shall consist of: a representative of the Historic Preservation Program in the Department of Environmental Protection, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, a representative of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to be designated by the executive director, a representative of the Neighborhood Preservation Program in the Department of Community Affairs, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, a representative of the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, to be appointed by the executive director of that agency, a representative of the Department of Transportation, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Transportation, and a representative of the Office of State Planning, to be appointed by the Director of the Office of State Planning.
The terms of the voluntary members so appointed, after the initial appointments, shall be three years, and each member may be reappointed. The terms of initial appointments of the voluntary members shall be staggered so that the terms of 1/3 of the advisory board's voluntary members shall expire annually. The advisory board members who are not State employees shall be entitled to reimbursement of their expenses incurred in connection with their duties on the advisory board.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, all members of the advisory board serving on the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) may continue to serve under their respective appointments and terms, at the discretion of the secretary.
6. (New section) There is continued in the Department of State the "Main Street New Jersey Program Fund," as initially established pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-457), which shall consist of all funds appropriated to the "Main Street New Jersey" program by the Legislature, and also any gifts, contributions, grants or bequests received from the federal government or any other source. Money in the "Main Street New Jersey Program Fund" shall be used to carry out the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and for no other purposes. Any funds remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not lapse to the General Fund, but shall remain in the fund.
7. (New section) The secretary shall continue to provide the assistance required under P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to municipalities that were selected to participate in the "Main Street New Jersey" program prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
8. Section 1 of P.L.2003, c.292 (C.52:27D-454.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a municipality designated as an urban enterprise zone pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et seq.) shall be considered by the [commissioner] Secretary of State for assistance under the "Main Street New Jersey" program if such municipality includes financial assistance from its enterprise zone assistance fund account, established pursuant to section 29 of P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-88), for the purpose of having an operating budget deemed adequate by the [commissioner] secretary for a period of not less than three years and if such municipality is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of [P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-454)] P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Any proposal by such municipality for financial assistance from its enterprise zone assistance fund account, for the purposes of consideration by the commissioner for assistance under the "Main Street New Jersey" program, shall follow the procedures for approval that are established pursuant to the provisions of section 29 of P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-88).
(cf: P.L.2003, c.292, s.1)
9. Section 6 of P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-457) is amended to read as follows:
6. There is established in the Department of Community Affairs the "Main Street New Jersey Program Fund," which shall consist of all funds appropriated to the "Main Street New Jersey" program by the Legislature, and also any gifts, contributions, grants or bequests received from the federal government or any other source. Money in the "Main Street New Jersey Program Fund" shall be used to carry out the provisions of P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-452 et seq.) and for no other purposes. Any funds remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not lapse to the General Fund, but shall remain in the fund. Upon the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the "Main Street New Jersey Program Fund," inclusive of any remaining funds therein, shall be transferred to the Secretary of State in accordance with sections 1 and 6 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(cf: P.L.2001, c.238, s.6)
10. Sections 1 through 5 and section 7 of P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-452 through C.52:27D-456, and C.52:27D-458) and are repealed.
11. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill moves the "Main Street New Jersey" program and fund from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of State, to be administered by the Secretary of State. The bill repeals the sections of law that had codified the program under the statutory location affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs, and recreates the program in the statutes that are affiliated with the Secretary of State's functions. All current advisory board members to the program may continue to serve at the discretion of the Secretary of State. The representation of the New Jersey Commerce Commission on the advisory board to the program is eliminated under the bill, since P.L.2008, c.27 abolished the commission and relocated its functions to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which is already represented on the advisory board.
