New Jersey-2014-A829-Introduced

An Act establishing the "Study Commission on E-Licensing."

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

1. There is established a study commission to be known as the "Study Commission on E-Licensing" to review all professional, occupational, and business licenses issued by the State and recommend those that should be included within a one-stop online licensing system. In developing its recommendations, the commission shall consider initiatives adopted in the e-Licensing Project that is part of the State of Minnesota's Drive to Excellence.

2. The commission shall consist of seven members. The commission chair shall be Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, ex officio, or his or her designee. Two members of the commission, who shall not be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Governor. Two members of the commission, who shall not be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. Two members of the commission, who shall not be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.

3. The members of the commission shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and shall hold their initial organizational meeting as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of the commission's members.

4. The commission shall submit its first report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within 180 days of its initial organizational meeting. The commission's first report shall include a list of each professional, occupational, and business license issued by the State, together with the department, board, bureau, commission, task force, council, authority, or agency responsible for issuing the license. The report shall also list the total number of State departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, task forces, councils, authorities, or agencies responsible for administering all State-issued licenses, the total number of State employees responsible for issuing and administering those licenses in aggregate, recommendations as to which of those licenses may feasibly be included within a one-stop online licensing system, and which ten of those recommended for inclusion may be utilized as part of a three-year, phase-in pilot program.

5. The commission shall submit its final report to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.169 (C.52:14-19.1), within 180 days from the date of submission of the commission's first report, including any recommendations for regulatory or legislative action it deems appropriate, within 180 days from date of submission of the commission's first report. The commission's final report shall set forth recommended guidelines for the implementation of a one-stop online licensing system, including a full list of all licenses that should be included within the system once it is fully operational, a comprehensive proposed schedule for a pilot program and the full implementation of the system, an estimation of the costs for the creation and hosting of the system, any savings which may be achieved through the consolidation of the system, and any temporary surcharge that should be applied to the fees for licenses that are included within the system, to cover the cost for implementation of the system.

6. The Executive Director of the Office of Legislative Services shall provide such technical, stenographic, and secretarial assistance as may be required by the commission. The commission may also request the assistance and services of employees of any other State department, board, bureau, commission, task force or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon submission of the commission's final report to the Legislature.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the "Study Commission on E-Licensing." The commission shall study how the State may implement a one-stop online licensing system for State-issued professional, occupational, and business licenses. In developing its recommendations, the commission shall consider initiatives adopted in the e-Licensing Project that is part of Minnesota's Drive to Excellence.

Minnesota's Drive to Excellence is an initiative to make state government faster, more reliable, and cost-effective. One element of the Drive to Excellence is the creation of a one-stop online licensing system where citizens, professionals, and business owners and operators can quickly and easily obtain, in one place, state-issued professional, occupational, and business licenses through the Internet. The new system will permit 24 hour access, and is designed to improve processing time and security, reduce paper waste and transportation costs, increase the amount of time state employees can spend on mission-focused activities, and provide for better reporting and business data. Minnesota implemented a pilot online licensing program in 2009-2010, and began adding additional licenses to the system in 2011.

This bill establishes a temporary study commission to develop a plan for a similar system in New Jersey. The commission is to be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The remaining six members of the commission will be appointed, two each, by the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the Assembly.

Once appointed, the commission will issue two reports over the following year. The commission's first report, to come within six months of organization, will include recommendations as to what licenses may be included within a one-stop licensing system. The report will provide an overview of State-issued licenses and recommend licenses for inclusion in a pilot program and the overall system.

The final report is to be issued within six months of the first and shall provide a more detailed plan for the creation of the system, including a schedule for licenses to be added to the system, an estimation of the development costs, and a proposed temporary surcharge to cover the costs for creating the system.