September 30, 2010
Christie Nominates Samson to Serve on Port Authority
Governor Christie today announced the nomination of David Samson to serve on the Board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Upon Senate confirmation, Governor Christie will name Mr. Samson as Chairman of the Board of the Port Authority. Samson will replace Anthony R. Coscia who has served as Port Authority Chairman since 2003.
From 2002-2003, Samson served as Attorney General of the State of New Jersey. Among his other public positions, Samson was appointed by Governor James Florio as a member of the Governor's Commission on Health Care Costs and by Governor Thomas Kean as the Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on the Laws Governing the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Samson was also appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to serve on its Ethics Committee and was a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Reporting of Court Decisions.
Samson is a founding member of the Morristown law firm of Wolff Samson. He served as counsel to the Christie for Governor Campaign and as the Chairman of the Transition Committee for Governor Christie.
Final Legislative Approval Given to Legislation Elimination Boards and Commissions
The Assembly gave final legislative approval to Assembly bill 2851 which eliminates inactive boards, commissions, committees and task forces by a vote of 74-0 this afternoon. The bill eliminates the following boards, commissions, committees, councils, and task forces:
Advisory Council of the State Library;
Agent Orange Commission;
Camden Financial Review Board;
Christopher Columbus Quincentennial Observance Commission;
Commission on Early Childhood Education;
Commission to Study Sex Discrimination in the Statutes;
Committee to Review the State Commission of Investigation;
Corporation Business Tax Study Commission;
Crime Prevention Advisory Committee;
Delaware and Raritan Canal Transportation Safety Study Commission;
Drug Utilization Review Council;
Environment Advisory Task Force;
Ergonomics in Education Study Commission;
Fisheries Information and Development Center Coordinating Board;
Governor's Air and Space Medal Nominating Committee;
Hospital Care Payment Commission;
Jewish Heritage Trail Study Commission;
Managed Care Task Force;
New Jersey Citizens' Clean Elections Commission;
New Jersey Commemorative Coin Design Commission;
New Jersey Health Data Commission;
New Jersey Obesity Prevention Task Force;
New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Museum Commission;
New Jersey Uniform Securities Law Study Commission;
Parents' Education Program Advisory Committee;
Police Paperwork Reduction Task Force;
Pollution Prevention Advisory Board;
Prepaid Higher Education Expense Board and associated program in its entirety;
Property Tax Convention Task Force;
Recreational Sports and Leisure Activities Liability Study Commission;
Regional Intergovernmental Transportation Coordinating Study Commission;
Right to Know Advisory Council, including its duties and powers;
School Construction Review Commission;
State Board of Public Movers and Warehousemen;
State Commission on Drunk Driving;
State Revenue Forecasting Advisory Commission;
State Review Board on Driver Education;
Task Force on New Jersey History;
Task Force on Workplace Violence;
Task Force to Study Attendance in Public Schools;
The Trustees of the New Jersey School of the Arts;
World Language Instruction Committee
These boards, commissions, committees, councils, and task forces have served their purpose, been inactive for years, no longer have a role to fulfill, have completed their work, have not been convened for a long period of time, or were never organized. They are, for the most part, part of a list of such entities that were included in the report of the Red Tape Review Group entitled "Findings & Recommendations," April 19, 2010. Not included in this bill are those boards, commissions, committees, councils, and task forces identified in the report for elimination that were established under federal or local law, by gubernatorial executive order, or were previously eliminated by State law.
Christie Signs Executive Order creating NJ Educator Effectiveness Task Force; Outlines Education Reform Proposals
Governor Christie signed Executive Order 42, creating the New Jersey Educator Effectiveness Task Force for School and District-level education professionals. The Governor signed the executive order prior to delivering remarks outlining his education reform proposals. The proposed reforms include merit pay for teachers, changes to the tenure system, creating the designation of master teacher and allowing an alternate route certification for principals. Legislation must be passed to effectuate changes to the tenure system and to establish merit pay for teachers.
The Task Force established by Executive Order 42 will consist of up to nine members appointed by the Governor who shall serve at his pleasure. The Governor will select a chairperson from among the members of the Task Force. The Task Force will consist of individuals who have practical experience, knowledge or expertise in the areas of education policy or administration. All members of the Task Force will serve without compensation and will organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members.
The Task Force is charged with presenting recommendations to the Governor regarding how best to measure the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, based on defined parameters. The effectiveness recommendations must include:
a. identified measures of student achievement - representing at least 50% of the teacher or school leader evaluation - which should be used for evaluating educator performance;
b. demonstrated practices of effective teachers and leaders, which should comprise the remaining basis for such evaluations; and
c. how these measures of effective practices should be weighted.
The Task Force will issue an initial report containing its recommended effectiveness evaluation framework to the Governor no later than March 1, 2011. The Task Force will continue to meet as needed to continue to review and revise, if necessary, the recommendations following the receipt of comments from the public, stakeholders and the State Board of Education, pursuant to a schedule to be developed by the Department. The Task Force shall expire upon the Governor's receipt of a report containing their final recommendations pursuant to Executive Order 42.