New Jersey § 55:19-23

§ 55:19-23.

a. The New Jersey Urban Development Corporation established pursuant to P.L.1985,

c. 227 ( C.55:19-1 et seq. ) is reconstituted as the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey , this authority is allocated to the Department of Commerce and Economic Development;

but, notwithstanding that allocation, the authority shall be independent of any supervision

or control by the department or by any other board or officer thereof. All references in any law, order, rule, regulation, contract, loan, document or

otherwise to the New Jersey Urban Development Corporation in the Department of Commerce

and Economic Development shall mean the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority in the

Department of Commerce and Economic Development. b. The authority shall constitute a body corporate and politic and an instrumentality

exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise by the authority

of the powers conferred by P.L.1996, c. 62 ( C.55:19-20 et al.) shall be deemed and held to be an essential governmental function of the

State. c. The authority shall consist of the State Treasurer, the Attorney General, the Commissioner

of Community Affairs, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Environmental

Protection, the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner

of Labor, the Commissioner of Transportation, and the Commissioner of Commerce and

Economic Development who shall be members and who shall serve ex officio, and eleven

public members of whom seven shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and

consent of the Senate, two shall be appointed by the Senate President and two shall

be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, for terms of three years, except

as provided hereunder. Of the seven members appointed by the Governor, one shall represent the interests

of the for-profit development industry; one shall represent the interests of the

nonprofit development community, two shall be mayors of municipalities which are coextensive

with “special needs districts” as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1990, c. 52 ( C.18A:7D-3 ); two shall be mayors of municipalities which are contiguous to municipalities which

are coterminous with special needs districts; and one shall represent the interest

of the banking, insurance or real estate financing industries. Each member shall hold office for the term of his appointment and until his successor

shall have been appointed and qualified. A member shall be eligible for reappointment. Each mayor shall serve for a term of three years, but shall continue to serve only

as long as the mayor continues to hold mayoral office. The members appointed by each of the presiding officers of both Houses of the Legislature

shall not represent the same political party. Any vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of term shall be

filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. In appointing public members, the presiding officers shall have regard to providing

an adequate depth and diversity of knowledge and experience in the financial, physical

and social aspects of urban development, and of other relevant expertise in urban

matters. d. Each ex officio member may designate an officer or employee of his department to

represent him at authority meetings. The designation shall be in writing, delivered into the hands of the secretary of

the authority, and shall continue in effect until revoked or amended in the same manner. e. Each member appointed by the Governor may be removed from office by the Governor,

for cause, after a public hearing, and may be suspended by the Governor pending the

completion of the hearing. Each member before entering upon his duties shall take and subscribe an oath to

perform the duties of his office faithfully, impartially and justly to the best of

his ability. A record of such oaths shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. f. The Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development may, at the commissioner's

discretion, serve as the chairperson of the authority or may appoint one of the public

members of the authority as chairperson. Any such designation or appointment shall be made in writing and shall be delivered

to the authority and to the Governor and shall continue in effect until revoked or

amended by a writing delivered to the authority and the Governor. The members of the authority shall elect from their remaining number a vice chairperson

and a treasurer thereof. The authority shall employ an executive director who shall be its secretary and

chief executive officer. The powers of the authority shall be vested in the members thereof in office from

time to time and eleven members of the authority shall constitute a quorum at any

meeting thereof. Action may be taken, and motions and resolutions adopted, by the authority at any

meeting thereof by the affirmative vote of at least eleven members of the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair the right of a quorum

of the members to exercise all of the powers and perform all of the duties of the

authority. g. Each public member of the authority shall execute a bond to be conditioned upon

the faithful performance of the duties of such member in such form and amount as may

be prescribed by the State Comptroller. Such bonds shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. At all times thereafter the members and treasurer of the authority shall maintain

such bonds in full force and effect. All costs of such bonds shall be borne by the authority. h. The members of the authority shall serve without compensation, but the authority

shall reimburse its members for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge

of their duties. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no officer or employee of the State

shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his or her office or employment

or any benefits or emoluments thereof by reason of his or her acceptance of the office

of ex officio member of the authority or his or her services therein. i. The authority may be dissolved by act of the Legislature on condition that the

authority has no debts or obligations outstanding or that provision has been made

for the payment or retirement of such debts or obligations. Upon any such dissolution of the authority, all property, funds and assets thereof

shall be vested in the State. j. A true copy of the minutes of every meeting of the authority shall be forthwith

delivered by and under the certification of the secretary thereof to the Governor. No action taken at such meeting by the authority shall have force or effect until

10 days, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays excepted, after a copy of the minutes

shall have been so delivered unless during that 10-day period the Governor shall approve

the same in which case such action shall become effective upon approval. If, within the 10-day period, the Governor returns the copy of the minutes with

a veto of any action taken by the authority or any member thereof at the meeting,

that action shall be null and void and of no effect. The powers conferred in this subsection upon the Governor shall be exercised with

due regard for the rights of the holders of bonds and notes of the authority at any

time outstanding, and nothing in or done pursuant to this subsection shall in any

way limit, restrict or alter the obligation or powers of the authority or any representative

or officer of the authority to carry out and perform in every detail each and every

covenant, agreement or contract at any time made or entered into by or on behalf of

the authority with respect to its bonds or notes or for the benefit, protection or

security of the holders thereof. The Governor may approve all or part of the action taken at such meeting prior to

the expiration of the 10-day period. k. On or before March 31 of each year, the authority shall make an annual report of

its activities for the preceding calendar year to the Governor and the Legislature. Each such report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering

the authority's operations during the year. The authority shall cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least

once in each year by certified public accountants and cause a copy thereof to be filed

with the Secretary of State and the State Comptroller. l. The State Comptroller and his legally authorized representatives are hereby authorized

and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts, books and records of the

authority, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, sinking funds, investments,

and any other matters relating thereto and to its financial standing. m. No member, officer, employee or agent of the authority shall be interested, either

directly or indirectly, in any project or in any contract, sale, purchase, lease or

transfer of real or personal property to which the authority is a party.