A 4526

ASSEMBLY, No. 4526
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 9, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� ROSAURA "ROSY" BAGOLIE
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman� YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Venezia and Assemblywoman Morales
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes New Jersey Dominican-American Commission.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act establishing the New Jersey Dominican-American
Commission and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.�
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.� The Legislature finds and
declares that:
���� The State of New Jersey
recognizes that its Dominican population is one of the State�s fastest growing
Latino populations.� The histories of our nation and our State have been
significantly enriched by the heritage of people of Dominican descent. Our
nation and our State have benefitted substantially from the influences and
contributions of these men, women, and children and their distinctive culture
and history. �It is desirable to educate our citizens about the positive
aspects of the culture, music, art, language, history, and heritage of
Dominican-Americans.� The State should take concrete steps to address the
challenges within its Dominican-American community and work diligently to
foster a mutual and beneficial relationship with our fellow citizens.�
���� 2.� a.� There is established
in, but not of, the Department of State the New Jersey Dominican-American
Commission.� The commission shall consist of 21 members.
���� b.� (1)� Two members of the
Legislature shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, neither of whom
shall be members of the same political party; two members of the Legislature
shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, neither of whom shall
be members of the same political party; two members of the Legislature shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, neither of whom shall be
members of the same political party; and two members of the Legislature shall
be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, neither of whom
shall be members of the same political party.� The legislative members of the
commission shall serve during the two-year legislative term in which the
appointments are made.�
���� (2)� Thirteen members of the
commission shall be appointed by the Governor.� The 13 members thus appointed
shall be residents of the State who have served prominently as spokespersons, have
demonstrated leadership, or served as prominent advocates within the Dominican
or Dominican-American community, including, but not limited to, organizations
focused on cultural, social, or heritage-based initiatives.�
���� Each member of the commission
appointed by the Governor shall serve for a term of three years, except that of
the initial members appointed:� five members shall serve for a term of four
years, four members shall serve for a term of three years, and four members
shall serve for a term of two years.�
���� c.� To the greatest extent
practicable, appointees shall reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of
the State.� The members shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve
until their successors are appointed and qualified.� The term of the successor
of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that
incumbent.� A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired
term only.��
���� d.� All appointments shall be
made no later than 90 days following the date of enactment of P.L.�� , c.��
(C.�� )(pending before the Legislature at this bill).�
���� e.� Members of the commission
shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually
incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limit of funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.
���� f.� The commission annually
shall elect a chairperson from among its members.� It shall meet upon the call
of the chair or of a majority of the commission members, and hold hearings at
the places it designates throughout the State..� The presence of a majority of
the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct
of official business.
���� g.� The commission shall
appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and shall be a
person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the
office.
���� h.� The Department of State
shall provide professional and clerical staff to the commission as may be
necessary for the commission�s purposes.� The commission shall also be entitled
to call upon the services of any State, county, or municipal department, board,
commission, or agency, as may be available to it for its purposes.
���� 3.� a.� The purpose of the New
Jersey Dominican-American Commission shall be to: advocate for the
Dominican-American community in the State; foster cultural engagement;
strengthen connections between the State and the Dominican Republic; and
address such other issues as determined by the commission.�
���� b.��� The commission shall
report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and the Legislature
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within one year of its
initial organizational meeting and by February 1st of each succeeding year.�
The report shall include such recommendations as deemed appropriate by the
commission to effectuate its purposes, as provided by this section.
���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.�
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes the New
Jersey Dominican-American Commission.�
���� The purpose of the New Jersey Dominican-American
Commission will be to: advocate for the Dominican-American community in the
State; foster cultural engagement; strengthen connections between the State and
the Dominican Republic; and address such other issues as determined by the
commission.�
���� The commission will report its
findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within one
year of its initial organizational meeting and by February 1st of each
succeeding year.�
���� The commission will consist of
21 members.� Two members of the Legislature will be appointed by the President
of the Senate, two members of the Legislature will be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate, two members of the Legislature will be appointed by the
Speaker of the General Assembly, and two members of the Legislature will be
appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly.� Thirteen members of
the commission will be appointed by the Governor.� The 13 members thus
appointed will be residents of the State who have served prominently as
spokespersons, have demonstrated leadership, or served as prominent advocates
within the Dominican or Dominican-American community, including, but not
limited to, organizations focused on cultural, social, or heritage-based
initiatives.�