Bill Text: NJ A4221 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Creates Ethnic Produce Task Force.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-05 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4221 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4221-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4221

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 6, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman  RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  MARIA RODRIGUEZ-GREGG

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman  RONALD S. DANCER

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Creates Ethnic Produce Task Force.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on June 5, 2017, with amendments.

  

An Act creating the Ethnic Produce Task Force.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  There is created, within the Department of Agriculture, the "Ethnic Produce Task Force."

     b.    The task force shall consist of ¹[five] nine¹ members ¹.  Five members shall [to]¹ be appointed by the Governor, of whom two shall ¹[represent] be representatives of¹ the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association, ¹[two shall be active farmers, and] one shall be a representative of the New Jersey Farm Bureau,¹ one shall ¹[represent] be a representative of¹ the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey ¹, and one shall be a person active in the food processing industry.  Two members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom one shall be a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production and one shall be a representative of retail grocery stores; and two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, of whom one shall be a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production and one shall be a representative of retail grocery stores¹.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall appoint a chairperson of the task force from among its members and the task force shall appoint a vice-chairperson from among its members.

     c.     Any vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

     d.    The task force shall organize within three months after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall convene a minimum of three times.

     e.     Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.

     f.     A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum, and no action of the task force shall be taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the entire task force.

     g.    The Department of Agriculture shall provide primary staff support to the task force.

 

     2.    The Ethnic Produce Task Force shall, within one year after the appointment of a majority of its members:

     a.     Study and analyze economic data relating to demand for ethnic produce in New Jersey;

     b.    Determine which types of ethnic produce can be grown and harvested in New Jersey;

     c.     Identify businesses that need locally grown ethnic produce;

     d.    Publicize the advantages of using fresh locally grown ethnic produce to ethnic food preparers;

     e.     Examine, consider, and make recommendations to New Jersey farmers to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce; and

     f.     Submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report with any recommendations to farmers regarding the demand to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce in New Jersey.  A copy of the report shall be transmitted to the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day after submission by the task force of its report.