Bill Text: NJ A2159 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes "COVID-19 Frontline and Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission."
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-24 - Substituted by S144 (2R) [A2159 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A2159-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 2159
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 7, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH V. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "COVID-19 Frontline and Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on March 17, 2022, with amendments.
An Act establishing the "COVID-19 Frontline 1and1 Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that the coronavirus disease 2019 1("COVID-19")1 pandemic has exacted a terrible toll on the global community, the country, and this State. This global pandemic has claimed 1[over a million] millions of 1 lives worldwide, including 1[many] the1 lives of frontline 1and1 healthcare workers 1[that] who1 have displayed tremendous courage and dedication in their efforts to treat 1and support1 patients affected by 1[the coronavirus disease 2019] COVID-191. Many of these 1frontline and1 healthcare workers, 1[from all different healthcare fields]1 including those 1[working in] providing healthcare services in1 police and fire departments, 1[rose above] went beyond1 their usual scope of duties to combat 1multiple surges in1 the 1[surging] number of1 1[cases of coronavirus disease 2019] COVID-19 cases1, often with limited healthcare resources. As one of the early epicenters of the 1[coronavirus disease 2019] COVID-191 pandemic, it is important for this State to memorialize the tragic consequences of the pandemic and recognize the immense loss of life suffered by this State.
The Legislature therefore determines that it is fitting 1and1 proper 1[and fitting]1 to establish a commission 1,1 to be known as the COVID-19 Frontline 1and1 Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission 1,1 to design and oversee the construction of a memorial dedicated to the frontline 1and1 healthcare workers 1[that] who1 have lost their lives treating 1and supporting1 patients during the 1[coronavirus disease 2019] COVID-191 pandemic.
2. a. There is established 1[,]1 in 1,1 but not of 1,1 the Department of State, a commission known 1to be1 as the "COVID-19 Frontline 1and1 Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission 1[,] .1" 1[for the purposes of honoring and recognizing] The purpose of the commission shall be to design and oversee the construction of a memorial that honors and recognizes1 the frontline 1and1 healthcare workers 1[that] who1 lost their lives in the fight against the 1[coronavirus disease 2019] COVID-191 pandemic.
b. The commission shall consist of nine public members, who shall be residents of the State and representative of frontline 1and1 healthcare workers, including frontline 1and1 healthcare workers in police and fire departments 1, individuals with knowledge in erecting monuments or other general experience in construction or architecture, individuals with experience in grant funding or in business administration; and any other expertise as determined by the Governor1. The 1[Speaker of the General Assembly, the Senate President, and the]1 Governor shall 1[each]1 appoint three public members 1[of] to1 the commission 1, shall appoint three members to the commission upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, and shall appoint three members to the commission upon recommendation of the President of the Senate1.
c. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as 1is provided for1 the original appointments 1[are made]1.
d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.
e. The commission shall organize as soon as 1[may be]1 practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall elect from among its members a chairperson. The presence of five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
f. The commission 1[will] shall1 meet 1[regularly as the commission determines, or] at least twice per year at times and places determined by the commission, as well as1 at the call of the chairperson or a majority of commission's membership.
g. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public. Agendas, minutes, documents, and testimony from all meetings shall be posted 1by the commission1 on the 1webpage established for the commission, a link to which shall be posted on the Department of1 State's 1Internet1 website.
h. The commission 1[also]1 may request the assistance and services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, task force or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. 1The commission may, subject to available funds, hire staff as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, including appropriate clerical and administrative staff. The commission shall hire at least one individual to provide clerical support to the commission.1
3. a. The commission shall select a suitable design and location for the construction of a memorial dedicated to the frontline 1and1 healthcare workers 1[that] who1 lost their lives 1[in the coronavirus disease 2019] during the COVID-191 pandemic 1,1 and shall determine appropriate methods of financing the construction and maintenance of the memorial. Following the selection of a design and specific location for the memorial and the receipt of sufficient funding, the commission shall oversee the construction of the memorial.
b. The commission may initiate fundraising measures and may receive monetary donations for the design, construction, and maintenance of the memorial. Any money received by the commission for these purposes shall be deposited in the fund established 1[by] pursuant to1 section 4 of this act.
1c.1 Not later than 18 months following the effective date of this act, the commission shall prepare and submit 1a final report1 to the Governor and 1, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1),1 to the Legislature 1[, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a final report]1, which 1report1 shall include the final design selected for the memorial, the exact location selected for the memorial, and the amount of funding necessary for construction and maintenance of the memorial.
4. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a non-lapsing fund to be known as the "COVID-19 Frontline 1and1 Healthcare Worker Memorial Fund." The fund shall be credited with any moneys received by the COVID-19 Frontline 1and1 Healthcare Worker Memorial Commission as donations pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of this act and any moneys as may thereafter be donated or appropriated to the fund. All 1[interested] interest1 earned on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The moneys in the fund shall be administered by the State Treasurer and held in the fund until appropriated by law. No later than one year 1[,]1 following the effective date of this act, and annually thereafter, the State Treasurer shall certify to the 1Governor, the1 Legislature 1,1 and the 1[Commissioner of Environmental Protection] Secretary of State1 the total amount of moneys in the fund.
5. The act shall take effect immediately 1,1 and 1sections 1 through 3 of this act1 shall expire on the first day of the sixth month 1next1 following the completion of the 1[memorial, except for section 4, which shall remain in effect] COVID-19 Frontline and Healthcare Worker Memorial1.
