Bill Text: NJ SR139 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Constitutes special committee of Senate entitled "Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-13 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR139 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR139-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Constitutes special committee of Senate entitled "Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution constituting a special committee of the Senate entitled the "Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies."
Whereas, The State's economic vitality depends on economic development programs that incentivize qualified businesses to invest in the State's communities through job creation and capital investment; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (authority), established in 1974, has provided financing to businesses that has led to the creation of nearly 400,000 jobs in this State and spurred nearly $60 billion in private investment from $30 billion in State assistance; and
Whereas, Two of the State's most important economic development programs, both administered by the authority, will begin to expire June 30, 2019; and
Whereas, If existing or new economic development programs are not extended or authorized, business incentives offered by other states will place New Jersey at a strategic disadvantage; and
Whereas, Businesses that would have otherwise stayed in, or moved to, New Jersey will instead locate in other states, which will have a negative impact on the State's economy; and
Whereas, The economic vitality of the State depends upon the best strategies, policies, and practices to create jobs, attract investments to distressed communities, help existing businesses thrive, and generate quality, long-term economic opportunities throughout the State; and
Whereas, A Senate legislative committee will be able to identify those strategies, policies, and practices and make recommendations for legislation creating targeted and effective economic development programs that will allow the State to effectively compete across the country and the world for new jobs and investment and to create a robust, world-class, 21st Century economy; and
Whereas, It is fitting for the Senate, through an appropriate committee, to investigate and act upon the creation of an economic development policy for the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is constituted a special committee of the Senate entitled the "Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies," comprised of seven members of the Senate. The seven members shall be appointed by the Senate President, not more than four of whom shall be of the same political party. There shall be a chair and vice-chair of the special committee appointed by the Senate President from among the appointed members, each of whom shall be of a different political party.
2. a. The Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies shall:
(1) conduct a review of the State's current and previous economic development programs and determine: the aspects of each program that were successful or unsuccessful; why those aspects were successful or unsuccessful; and how these programs may be improved in the future;
(2) seek the input of State and regional leaders in the business community, academic experts in the area of economic development, and other qualified experts as determined by the committee to identify a holistic approach to regulating the economy of the State in a manner that will maximize private business investment and job growth;
(3) utilize all documentation, testimony, and any other relevant information that will assist with an analysis of the compliance with the program requirements by recipients of economic development program benefits; and
(4) identify the best strategies, policies, and practices to create jobs and attract capital investments to distressed communities, and generate long-term economic opportunities throughout the State.
b. The Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies shall issue a report of its findings and recommend legislation addressing the State's economic development policy.
3. For the purposes of carrying out its charge under this resolution, the Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies shall have all the powers conferred under the laws and the Constitutions of the State of New Jersey and of the United States, including, but not limited to, the following powers, provided that no subpoena shall be issued by the committee without the written consent of the chair and vice chair of the committee and the President of the Senate:
a. the powers conferred pursuant to chapter 13 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, the power to issue subpoenas to compel attendance and testimony of persons and the production of books, papers, correspondence, other documents and materials, and electronic records and data;
b. to hold hearings, take testimony under oath, and receive documentary or physical evidence relating to the matters and questions it is authorized to investigate or study;
c. to use any and all reasonable means of interviewing or fact gathering, including, but not limited to, preliminary conferences or interviews;
d. to convene a meeting or hearing to determine the adequacy of the return and rule on the objection if a return on a subpoena or order for the production of documentary evidence is incomplete or accompanied by an objection;
e. to utilize the powers provided under R.S.52:13-3 or hold individuals or entities in contempt of the committee;
f. to make findings and reports to the Senate of any recommendations, including recommendations for enforcement, that the committee may consider appropriate with respect to the willful failure or refusal of any person to appear before it, to answer questions or give testimony during an appearance of that person as a witness, or to produce before the committee any books, papers, correspondence, other documents and materials, and electronic records and data that the committee may request;
g. to respond to any judicial or other process, or to make application to the courts of this State, or any other state, or the United States;
h. to report possible violations of any law, rule, regulation, or code to appropriate federal, State, or local authorities; and
i. to adopt additional rules or procedures not inconsistent with this resolution.
4. a. The Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies 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.
b. The Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies, upon the written approval of the President of the Senate, shall be entitled to call to its assistance, employ, and avail itself of the services of one or more special counsel retained to assist the committee.
5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution constitutes a special committee of the Senate entitled the "Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth Strategies" (committee). The committee is to consist of seven senators appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom no more than four members are from the same political party. There is to be a chair and vice-chair of the committee appointed by the Senate President from among the appointed members, each of whom shall be from a different political party.
The committee is to:
1) conduct a review of the State's current and previous economic development programs and determine: the aspects of each program that were successful or unsuccessful; why those aspects were successful or unsuccessful; and how these programs may be improved in the future;
2) seek the input of State and regional leaders in the community, academic experts in the area of economic development, and other qualified experts as determined by the committee to identify a holistic approach to regulating the economy of the State in a manner that will maximize private business investment and job growth; and
3) utilize all documentation, testimony, and any other relevant information that will assist with an analysis of the compliance with the program requirements by recipients of economic development program benefits; and
4) identify the best strategies, policies, and practices to create jobs and attract capital investments to distressed communities, and generate long-term economic opportunities throughout the State.
The committee is to issue a report of its findings and recommend legislation addressing the State's economic development policy.
The resolution grants the committee the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents.
