SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3835

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 25, 2025

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3835.

      As amended by the committee, this bill establishes the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure in the Executive Branch of State Government.  The office will be in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, but the office will be independent of any supervision or control by the State Treasurer or the Department of the Treasury.

      The purpose of the office is to establish and implement cybersecurity policies for the State; establish, implement, and monitor technology infrastructure throughout the State in order for nonprofit and private organizations to interact with residents of this State in a secure manner; and establish artificial intelligence (AI) policies in order for public and private institutions to safely integrate AI into professional practices.  The office will develop and maintain an Internet website or webpage providing information to the public concerning the operations of the office.

      Under the bill, as amended, the office will be led by a Director of the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure.  The Director will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  The Director will be devoted full-time to the duties and responsibilities of the office and will receive a salary as determined by law.  The Director, in consultation with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, the Chief Information Security Officer of the State, and the Director of the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, will:

      establish the internal organizational structure of the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure;

      coordinate and conduct technology operations in the Executive Branch of State Government, including agency cybersecurity technology operations, technology infrastructure operations, and AI integration operations;

      draft and establish Service Level Agreements with each department and agency in the Executive Branch of State Government; and

      enter into agreements as necessary with private and public entities or individuals in order to better secure cybersecurity infrastructure in this State.

      The Director will be authorized to appoint up to six Deputy Directors of Cybersecurity Infrastructure.  Each deputy will be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Director and will be responsible for cybersecurity planning, coordination, budgeting, technical architecture, and management of large-scale cybersecurity initiatives.

      The Director of the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure will provide periodic reports to the Governor and will issue an annual report to the Governor and to the Legislature regarding the cybersecurity infrastructure operations of the Executive Branch of State Government and the activities of the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure.  The annual report will be issued on or before January 1 of each year and will be made available to the public on the office’s website.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments change the bill’s reference to the Chief Officer of Cybersecurity Infrastructure to be the Director of the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure, and provide that the Director will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.