Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Increases membership and number of members permitted from same political party in BPU.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the membership of the Board of Public Utilities
and amending R.S.48:2-1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.48:2-1 is amended to read as follows:
a. The Board of Public Utilities, named pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 001-1994, effective on July 4, 1994, and allocated in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury pursuant to that plan, is continued and is designated as the Board of Public Utilities or the "board."
b. The board shall consist of [five] seven citizens of this State who shall devote their entire time to the duties of the board and shall not engage in any occupation, profession or other gainful employment.
c. Members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for terms of six years. The terms of office of the members of the board shall continue until their successors are appointed and qualified. No person shall act as a member of the board until that person's appointment has been confirmed by the Senate. Not more than [three] four of the members of the board shall be members of the same political party. All vacancies, except through the expiration of term, shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.132, s.1)
2. (New section) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.48:2-40 to the contrary, three members of the board shall constitute a majority of the board until such time as a sixth member of the board is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, at which time four members of the board shall constitute a majority of the board. Upon the appointment and confirmation of a seventh member of the board, the provisions of R.S.48:2-40 shall be applicable.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill increases the membership of the Board of Public Utilities from five to seven members. The bill also increases the number of members of the board who are of the same political party from three to four. This bill also clarifies the number of members which constitute a majority of the board until a sixth and seventh member is appointed.