Bill Text: NJ S3763 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes Asian American Pacific Islander Commission.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-30 - Substituted by A5737 [S3763 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S3763-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 3763

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes Asian American Pacific Islander Commission.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act establishing an Asian American Pacific Islander Commission and supplementing Title 52 of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.  The New Jersey Asian American Pacific Islander Commission is created and established in the Executive Branch of the State Government.  For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the commission is allocated within the Department of State but notwithstanding this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or any board or officer thereof.

 

     2.    The commission shall consist of 30 public members representing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities including, but not limited to: the Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Indian (Punjabi, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain), Hmong, Indonesian, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Mongolian, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese communities. 

     The public members shall be appointed as follows:

     One public member shall be appointed by the Secretary of State; 

     One public member shall be appointed by Governor from among recommendations made by the President of the Senate; and 

     One public member shall be appointed by the Governor from among recommendations made by the Speaker of the General Assembly. 

     The Governor shall appoint the remaining 27 public members, and shall appoint the chair of the commission. 

     The public members shall have experience advocating on behalf of their community.

 

     3.  Each public member of the commission shall serve a term of three years, except that in making the first appointments to the commission, 10 public members shall appointed to serve for one year, 10 for two years, and 10 for three years.  The length of the respective term for each public member of the first commission shall be determined by lot at the organization of the commission.  The public members shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent.  A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only.

     4.    The majority of authorized members of the commission shall be required to conduct official business.  The commission shall submit an annual report on its activities to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

 

     5.    The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

 

     6.    The commission is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of the State, or of any county, municipality or school district of the State, to supply such data, program reports and other information, personnel and assistance as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this act.  These departments, offices, divisions and agencies shall, to the extent possible, and not inconsistent with any other law of this State, cooperate with the commission and shall furnish it with such information, personnel, and assistance as may be necessary or helpful to accomplish the purposes of the commission.

 

     7.    The commission shall have the following responsibilities and duties:

     a.  To develop policies to improve the community, economic, social well-being, health and educational needs important to AAPI communities in New Jersey;

     b.  To develop and coordinate Statewide programs, recognizing the continuing contributions of AAPI individuals in New Jersey;

     c.  To draw upon the membership's knowledge and expertise in creating activities designed to better educate all citizens of New Jersey on AAPI issues and culture;

     d. To increase the awareness among AAPI individuals of governmental affairs and community and social service resources that may benefit AAPI individuals and communities as a whole.

 

     8.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes within the Department of State the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission.  The commission is tasked with: developing policies to improve the community, economic, social well-being, health and educational needs important to AAPI communities in New Jersey; developing and coordinating . Statewide programs, recognizing the continuing contributions of AAPI individuals in New Jersey; drawing upon the membership's knowledge and expertise in creating activities designed to better educate all citizens of New Jersey on AAPI issues and culture; and increasing the awareness among AAPI individuals of governmental affairs and community and social service resources that may benefit AAPI individuals and communities as a whole

     The commission will consist of 30 members, representing the diversity of the AAPI community in New Jersey.  Each public member after the first appointments will serve a term of three years.  The public members should have experience in advocacy for their communities.  The commission will be required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature about the commission's activities. 

     Members of the commission are not entitled to compensation, but will receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in performing their duties.  The commission is also authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State, or of any county, municipality, or district for such things as information or personnel in order to accomplish the tasks of the commission.

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