This bill amends the Agriculture Retention and Development Act to establish alternate voting members on County Agriculture Development Boards (CADBs). Each CADB will now include two alternate members: one representing the general public and one actively engaged in farming. These alternates will serve four-year terms and will be allowed to vote in place of a voting member from their respective background if that member is absent or disqualified. The bill aims to enhance the ability of CADBs to reach quorum and reduce conflicts of interest among members, thereby facilitating their operations.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the alternate member with a farming background will be appointed in the same manner as the four voting members actively engaged in farming, while the alternate representing the general public will be appointed similarly to the three members representing the general public. This change is intended to ensure that CADBs can effectively fulfill their responsibilities under the Agricultural Retention and Development Act, especially given the small size of the agricultural community in New Jersey, which often leads to conflicts of interest and challenges in maintaining a quorum.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4:1C-14