ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2774

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 13, 2020

      The Assembly Agriculture Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2774.

      This bill, as amended, would require the Governor to appoint, based upon a recommendation from the State Board of Agriculture, the executive director of the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC). Currently, the executive director is appointed by the SADC.

      The bill would provide that the executive director serve until the end of the appointing Governor's term, and for a maximum of six years, regardless of whether or not the executive director's successor has been appointed.  The bill would also prohibit the executive director from representing any person or party other than the State before or against the SADC, or registering as a "governmental affairs agent" as defined in section 3 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-20), for a period of two years from the termination of the executive director's employment.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments changed the Governor’s appointment from being made with the advice and consent of the Senate to being made based upon a recommendation from the State Board of Agriculture.