Bill Text: NJ S3316 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission."
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S3316 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3316-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator CHRIS A. BROWN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. space tourism is expected to be a $34 billion dollar industry by 2021;
b. the casinos in Atlantic City and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center represent the first and third largest employers in Atlantic County;
c. economic development is being encouraged in the area encompassing the Atlantic City International Airport, the National Aviation Research and Technology Park, and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center under New Jersey's Garden State Growth Zone Program and through the area's designation as a federal Opportunity Zone;
d. the federal "Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984," 51 U.S.C. s.50901 et seq., encourages, promotes, and facilitates the growth of commercial space launches; and
e. in the United States, there are currently 11 launch sites that have been licensed under the "Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984."
2. a. There is established, in but not of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, a study commission to be known as the "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission."
b. The study commission shall consist of nine members as follows:
(1) the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority or the Executive Director's designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(2) an expert in federal aviation regulation, preferably an expert serving, or with past experience, as an official or executive at the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center;
(3) an individual with a background in higher education who is affiliated with Stockton University and the National Aviation Research and Technology Park;
(4) an individual with expertise in aerospace or astronautical engineering who is affiliated with an institution of higher education in New Jersey, other than Stockton University;
(5) two individuals who reside within 10 miles of the Atlantic City International Airport to represent the interests of residents in the area;
(6) two business owners who operate businesses within 10 miles of the Atlantic City International Airport to represent the interests of businesses in the area; and
(7) an individual with expertise in the tourism sector to represent the tourist industry.
Except for the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the Governor shall appoint the members of the study commission.
c. The members of the study commission shall serve for a term that commences on a member's date of appointment and ends one year after the enactment date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Vacancies in the membership of the study commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
d. The members shall be appointed within 60 days following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The study commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chair from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the study commission. The presence of five members of the study commission shall constitute a quorum. The study commission may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on the issuance of the report required to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to subsection g. of this section, and on any recommendations, when a quorum is present.
e. All commission members shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the study commission for its purposes.
f. The study commission shall meet and hold public hearings at the place or places it designates.
g. The study commission shall study the feasibility of the Atlantic City International Airport successfully pursuing, and economically maintaining, licensing as a lateral or captive carry launch site through the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation in accordance with the requirements of 51 U.S.C. s.50905 and any other applicable federal law, rule, or regulation. The study commission shall not investigate, study, or otherwise consider pursuing licensing of the Atlantic City International Airport as a vertical launch site. The study commission shall issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The report shall include:
(1) an analysis of the expected costs of pursuing licensing of a launch or reentry site at or near the Atlantic City International Airport, and being so licensed;
(2) an assessment of the potential impacts that licensing would have on the economic vitality of the South Jersey region and quality of life for the region's residents; and
(3) any recommendations that the study commission deems appropriate.
h. The South Jersey Transportation Authority shall be responsible for the costs of the study commission and provide administrative assistance and support to the study commission, as requested by the study commission.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes an "Atlantic City International Airport Spaceport Feasibility Study Commission" (study commission) in but not of the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Under the bill the study commission is to consist of nine members:
(1) the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority or the Executive Director's designee, who is required to serve ex officio;
(2) an expert in federal aviation regulation, preferably an expert serving, or with past experience, as an official or executive at the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center;
(3) an individual with a background in higher education who is affiliated with Stockton University and the National Aviation Research and Technology Park;
(4) an individual with expertise in aerospace or astronautical engineering who is affiliated with an institution of higher education in New Jersey, other than Stockton University;
(5) two individuals who reside within 10 miles of the Atlantic City International Airport (airport);
(6) two business owners who operate businesses within 10 miles of the airport; and
(7) an individual with expertise in the tourism sector.
The bill requires the Governor to appoint the members of the study commission, except for the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority. Under the bill, the members of the study commission are to serve for a term that commences on a member's date of appointment and ends one year after the enactment date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
The bill requires that members be appointed within 60 days following the effective date of the bill and the study commission is required to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of members. All members are required to serve without compensation, but are eligible for reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the study commission for its purposes. Under the bill, the study commission is required to meet and hold public hearings at the place or places it designates.
The bill requires the study commission to study the feasibility of the airport successfully pursuing, and economically maintaining, licensing as a lateral or captive carry launch site through the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation in accordance with federal law, rules, and regulations. The study commission is specifically prohibited from investigating, studying, or otherwise considering pursuing licensing of the Atlantic City International Airport as a vertical launch site. The study commission is required to issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after the effective date of the bill. The report is required to include:
(1) an analysis of the expected costs of pursuing licensing of a launch or reentry site at or near the airport, and being so licensed;
(2) an assessment of the potential impacts that licensing would have on the economic vitality of the South Jersey region and quality of life for the region's residents; and
(3) any recommendations that the study commission deems appropriate.
Under the bill, the South Jersey Transportation Authority is to be responsible for the costs of the study commission and provide administrative assistance and support to the study commission.
