S2507

An Act establishing the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. a. There is established in, but not of, the Department of State the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission. The commission shall consist of 15 members, to be appointed as follows:

Two members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, neither of whom shall be members of the same political party; and two members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, neither of whom shall be members of the same political party. The legislative members of the commission shall serve during the two-year legislative term in which the appointments are made.

Eleven members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor. Six members shall serve for a term of three years and five shall serve for a term of four years. The 11 members thus appointed shall include at least one representative from: a State institution of higher education; the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, or its successor organization; and at least two public members representing Irish American communities neither of whom shall be members of the same political party.

b. All appointments shall be made no later than 90 days following the day of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

c. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limit of funds appropriated to the commission or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

d. The commission shall meet and hold hearings at the places it designates throughout the State.

2. The Governor shall designate a chairperson or co-chairpersons from among the members of the commission, who shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor. The chairperson or co-chairpersons, as appropriate, may appoint from among the commission members subcommittees and subcommittee chairpersons at their discretion. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the commission

3. a. The purpose of the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission shall be to:

(1) advance bilateral trade and investment between New Jersey and Ireland;

(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to New Jersey and Ireland;

(3) promote business and academic exchanges between New Jersey and Ireland;

(4) encourage mutual economic support between New Jersey and Ireland;

(5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of New Jersey and Ireland; and

(6) address such other issues as determined by the commission.

b. The commission shall report its findings, results, and recommendations to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within one year of its initial organizational meeting and by February 1st of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year. The report shall be in writing and include recommendations as deemed appropriate by the commission to effectuate its purpose, as provided by this section.

4. The New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission shall be authorized to raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions, to defray the commission’s administrative expenses and to carry out its purposes as set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The funds, gifts, grants, or bequests received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in an account in the Department of the Treasury and allocated and annually appropriated to the Department of State to defray the commission’s administrative expenses and carry out its purposes.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in, but not of, the Department of State the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission. The commission is to consist of 15 members, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Governor.

The purpose of the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission is to:

(1) advance bilateral trade and investment between New Jersey and Ireland;

(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to New Jersey and Ireland;

(3) promote business and academic exchanges between New Jersey and Ireland;

(4) encourage mutual economic support between New Jersey and Ireland;

(5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of New Jersey and Ireland; and

(6) address any other issues as determined by the commission.

The bill requires the commission to report its findings, results, and recommendations to the Governor, and the Legislature within one year of its initial organizational meeting and by February 1st of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year.

The bill authorizes the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission to raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone, or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions, to defray the commission’s administrative expenses and to carry out its purposes