Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Designates portion of State Highway Route 27 in Union County as "Jerry Green Memorial Highway."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on December 10, 2018, with amendments.
An Act designating the portion of State Highway Route 27 in Union County as the "Jerry Green Memorial Highway."
Whereas, The Honorable Gerald "Jerry" B. Green, Sr., born April 16, 1939 in the Borough of Roselle, was a life-long New Jersey resident who grew up in Union County and was educated in the Roselle Public School system, where he graduated from Abraham Clark High School; and
Whereas, As a pillar of the community in Union County, Assemblyman Green has served in numerous public offices and public service roles, including for the Union County Planning Board, the Union County Adolescent Substance Abuse Program, the Private Industry Council of Union County, the Union County Utilities Authority, the Union County Democratic Committee, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the New Jersey General Assembly; and
Whereas, Assemblyman Green was 1[sworn into] elected to1 the General Assembly in 1991, and, prior to his death, was the longest serving member of the current General Assembly, representing the 17th Legislative District for 10 years and, after re-districting, the 22nd Legislative District for 16 years until his death; and
Whereas, As a Democratic leader in the General Assembly, Assemblyman Green served as the Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Deputy Speaker and, over the course of his tenure in the General Assembly, was a member of numerous legislative committees, including serving as Chairman of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee; and
Whereas, While in the General Assembly, Assemblyman Green sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that improved the quality of life enjoyed by the citizens of this State, which included legislation to shorten the waiting period for criminal record expungement, require institutions of higher education to install sprinklers in all dormitories, and provide additional resources for financially disadvantaged school districts; and
Whereas, Following a life-long career in public service, Assemblyman Green passed away on April 18, 2018, two days after his 79th birthday; and
Whereas, With an unwavering devotion to the people of the State of New Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of 1[the]1 New Jersey to honor the memory of Assemblyman Jerry Green for his many contributions to the General Assembly and to the State by designating the portion of State Highway Route No. 27 in Union County as the "Jerry Green Memorial Highway"; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate the portion of State Highway Route 27, extending from milepost 27.13 to milepost 35.80, in Union County as the "Jerry Green Memorial Highway" and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
2. State or other public funds shall not be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions. Work shall not proceed and funding shall not be accepted by the Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining the signs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.