S1337

An Act establishing a bi-state commission to study and make recommendations to address the rail passenger service needs of certain New Jersey and New York commuters.

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

1. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the “Bi-State Commission to Study Rail Passenger Service Needs in Bergen, Passaic, Rockland, and Orange Counties.”

2. a. The commission shall consist of eight members, of whom four shall be appointed by the State of New Jersey and four shall be appointed by the State of New York in the manner determined by the legislatures of each state respectively.

b. Two of the members appointed by the State of New Jersey shall be residents of Bergen County, New Jersey and two of the members appointed by the State of New Jersey shall be residents of Passaic County, New Jersey. Two of the members appointed by the State of New York shall be residents of Rockland County, New York and two of the members appointed by the State of New York shall be residents of Orange County, New York.

c. The members appointed pursuant to the provisions of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall have expertise in rail passenger service.

d. The members shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. The commission shall organize no later than 30 days after the appointment of the majority of its members, and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson and hold hearings at the times and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fill its charge. The members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the commission.

4. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission, agency, authority, or other entity, as it may require and as may be available, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds available to it for its purpose.

5. The purpose of the commission shall be to study and make recommendations concerning the rail passenger service needs of commuters in Bergen and Passaic counties in the State of New Jersey and Rockland and Orange counties in the State of New York.

6. The commission shall prepare and submit a report containing its findings and recommendations pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to the Governor of New Jersey, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, the Governor of New York, and the Legislature of the State of New York no later than 12 months after the date of its initial meeting.

7. The commission shall expire 30 days after the commission submits its report pursuant to section 6 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

8. The New Jersey members of the commission shall be appointed as follows:

a. one member shall be a resident of Bergen County appointed by the Senate President;

b. one member shall be a resident of Bergen County appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;

c. one member shall be a resident of Passaic County appointed by the Senate President; and

d. one member shall be a resident of Passaic County appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

9. Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall take effect upon enactment of substantially similar legislation by the State of New York, provided that if the State of New York has already enacted such legislation, sections 1 through 7 of this act shall take effect immediately. Section 8 of this act shall take effect upon the effective date of sections 1 through 7 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a bi-state commission to study and make recommendations to address the rail passenger service needs of certain New Jersey and New York commuters.

The “Bi-State Commission to Study Rail Passenger Service Needs in Bergen, Passaic, Rockland, and Orange Counties” is to consist of eight members, of whom four are to be appointed by the State of New Jersey and four are to be appointed by the State of New York. Two members appointed by New Jersey are to be residents of Bergan County, New Jersey and two members appointed by New Jersey are to be residents of Passaic County, New Jersey. Two members appointed by New York are to be residents of Rockland County, New York and two members appointed by New York are to be residents of Orange County, New York.

The New Jersey members of the commission are to be appointed as follows: one is to be a resident of Bergen County and appointed by the Senate President; one is to be a resident of Bergen County and appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one is to be a resident of Passaic County and appointed by the Senate President; and one is to be a resident of Passaic County and appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. The New York legislature will determine how the New York members are to be appointed. All members are to have expertise in rail passenger service.

The purpose of the commission is to study and make recommendations to address the rail passenger service needs of commuters in Bergen and Passaic counties in New Jersey and Rockland and Orange counties in New York. The commission is to report its findings and recommendations to the governors and legislatures of New Jersey and New York within 12 months of its first meeting and is to expire 30 days after it submits its report.