TRENTON – The Senate State Government Committee released related bills that would make it easier for applicants to track the progress of their permits.
The panel OK’d S1653/A2223 by identical 4-0-1 votes, with Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego, (R-8), abstaining.
The purpose is to improve transparency for applicants to track online the progress of permit applications.
Numerous business and political associations support the measure, including the N.J. Association of Counties, The N.J. Association of Realtors, N.J. Business and Industry Association, the state Chamber of Commerce, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
However, Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club said that while putting such data online is good, the public is being left out.
“Why can’t the public find out” about a permit application’s status, he asked, pointing out that most of the time the public does not find out about such things until they appear in the N.J. Register and most of the work on them has been done.
Addiego said that she loved the premise of the legislation, but raised concerns about costs.
In other business:
S1321: This bill, which would require written notification one day prior to transfer of temporary gubernatorial succession, passed 3-2 along party lines.
It would mandate the notification be given to the successor as well as to the presiding officers of the Assembly and Senate. The measure would not apply in the event of an emergency such as an attack.
S1834: This measure, which passed unanimously, would mandate the display of abuse hotline bumper stickers on all state vehicles.
SJR46/AJR35: These measures honoring the centennial of the Girl Scouts passed unanimously.
