Bill > A4121

Introduced Session

This bill creates the New Jersey-Africa Commission. The commission will consist of 21 members. Five of the members will be of the Executive Branch, and 16 members will be members of the public. The public members will be residents of New Jersey, identify as part of the African Diaspora, the voluntary and involuntary movement of Africans and their descendants to various parts of the world, and will be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the leadership of the Legislature. The commission will advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the State and African nations, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, agriculture, art, education, and government. The commission will have the following powers and duties: undertake studies, sponsor symposiums, conduct research, and gather information and data in order to accomplish its purposes; make recommendations to the Division of Business Assistance, Marketing, and International Trade for a broad series of exchanges between the State of New Jersey and identified nation states on the African continent; advise the Governor regarding the development of economic, agricultural, cultural, educational, and any such other links between New Jersey, African nations, and the African Diaspora community in New Jersey; and apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public, or private sources to enable it to better carry out its objectives. The commission is to organize itself into five committees, as follows: a Committee on Economic Development and Trade; a Committee on Culture and Tourism; a Committee on Health and Medicine; a Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources; and a Committee on Education and Human Resource Development. Within one year of the commission's initial organizational meeting, the commission is required to issue an interim report of its work and provide a copy to the Governor and the Legislature. Thereafter, annual reports will be issued by February 1st of each succeeding year for the activities of the preceding calendar year.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Reginald Atkins (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 06/02/2022)

Official Document