Bill > SR68

This Resolution establishes a special committee within the New Jersey Senate, named the "Senate Select Committee on the Executive Branch's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic," to examine how the executive branch handled the COVID-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that significantly impacted New Jersey residents and the state's economy. The committee will consist of six senators, appointed by the Senate President with no more than three from the same political party, and will have a chair and vice-chair from different parties. Its primary purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of the executive branch's pandemic response, identify successes and failures, and develop strategies to better prepare the state for future infectious disease outbreaks or other prolonged emergencies. To achieve this, the committee is granted broad investigative powers, including the ability to issue subpoenas for testimony and documents, hold hearings, gather evidence, and utilize state employees and potentially special counsel, though subpoena issuance requires approval from the committee chair, vice-chair, and the Senate President. The committee is also empowered to report potential law violations and make recommendations to the Senate.