State
of New Jersey
Executive
Order #5
Governor James
E. McGreevey
This executive
order continues EO #132 DiFrancesco.
WHEREAS, on September
11, 2001, terrorists killed and injured thousands of persons in an unprovoked
attack against the United States; and
WHEREAS, hundreds
of innocent New Jersey residents were among those killed in the attacks,
and numerous New Jersey residents were among those injured; and
WHEREAS, the lives
of thousands of New Jersey residents have been profoundly affected by
these events, in countless ways, including effects to their social, emotional
and economic well being; and
WHEREAS, on September
17, 2001, in response to the events of September 11, 2001, the State of
New Jersey created the Office of Recovery and Victim Assistance, to be
led by a Recovery Coordinator, pursuant to Executive Order No. 132 (2001),
to administer and coordinate recovery and victim assistance efforts for
New Jersey victims and their families and;
WHEREAS, to access
recovery and relief services and assistance, victims and their families
have at times faced significant administrative burdens, and continue to
expend significant time and effort identifying and accessing the available
assistance programs and services, as they strive to meet the needs of
their families and;
WHEREAS, many New
Jersey residents impacted by the attacks will have a continuing need for
assistance and services for the foreseeable future, and would benefit
from a program that would provide a higher level of aid in accessing assistance
and services and would simplify the process of accessing such aid; and
WHEREAS, the long-term
recovery effort will continue to be complex in nature, will necessarily
involve various governmental and private agencies, and will benefit from
continued coordination through a single State agency, organized as a part
of the Governor's office;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the Sexy真人y, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Statutes of
this State, including but not limited to , do hereby ORDER and DIRECT
that:
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The Office of
Recovery and Victim Assistance (Office) and the position of Recovery
Coordinator, both created by Executive Order 132 (2001), are hereby
continued, and the Recovery Coordinator is hereby charged with leading
the Office as it implements long-term relief and assistance efforts;
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The Office and
the Recovery Coordinator are hereby authorized and empowered to create
and manage, directly or through an agreement with a third-party, a
Family Advocate Program, to provide more personalized assistance to
families who lost loved ones (families) and other persons who were
injured (injured persons) in the September 11th attacks. This program
shall include, but not be limited to, the following features:
a. The program
shall assist families and injured persons in identifying, applying
for and receiving available services and assistance;
b. Family
Advocates, who shall be assigned to work with specific families
and persons, will act as the primary point of contact for families
and injured persons to receive information and assistance in accessing
available resources, including but not limited to, charitable and
other funds, public and private programs, volunteer and fee-based
services, such as legal, financial and mental health services, job
training and skill enhancement programs;
c. For the
convenience and accessibility of families and injured persons, Family
Advocates shall be assigned, and shall operate, on a regional basis
and have access to comprehensive and current sources of available
assistance;
d. Family
Advocates shall have the appropriate training, experience and personal
qualities necessary to provide comprehensive and effective assistance,
shall be knowledgeable regarding the array of available services
and assistance, and shall be subject to appropriate performance
standards and supervision.
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In addition to
the powers set out for the Office and the Coordinator in Executive
Order 132 (2001), the Office and the Coordinator also are authorized
and empowered:
a. To cooperate
and coordinate with private and public agencies, as well as with
not-for-profit corporations, and to enter into agreements with these
entities for the purpose of furthering the mission of the Office
as set forth in Executive Order No. 132 (2001), and herein, including
but not limited to, cooperative relationships and agreements that
simplify or streamline the application and qualification processes
required for families and injured parties to receive available assistance
and services;
b. To solicit,
receive and accept appropriations from public sources for any recovery
and victim assistance purpose which falls within the mission of
the Office as set forth in Executive Order No. 132 (2001), and hereunder.
The Office may not acquire, hold, receive or accept any moneys or
other property, real or personal, tangible or intangible that will
result in the incurring of any financial obligations on the part
of the State that cannot be supported entirely from the funds then
available to or from the moneys then held by the Office.
c. To organize
or participate in the organization of a not-for-profit corporation,
organized under the laws of this State, which is exempt from federal
taxation. It shall be the purpose and function of the corporation
to further the mission of the Office as set forth in Executive Order
No. 132 (2001), and herein, including but not limited to, operating
and administering the Family Advocate Program, described herein,
directly or through a third-party provider. Expenses incurred by
the corporation shall be payable from the funds raised or held by
it, and no liability or obligation, in tort or contract, shall be
incurred by the State for the operation of the corporation, nor
shall the corporation in any way be indemnified by the State. The
corporation shall not be entitled to representation by the Attorney
General, but shall be responsible for securing its own counsel when
necessary.
The corporation
established and organized under the provisions of this subsection
shall be governed by a board of directors and administered by an
executive director. Four State officers, appointed by the Governor,
shall serve on the board ex officio. In addition to the ex officio
members, the initial board shall consist of three public members
appointed by the Governor. These initial public members shall serve
for a term of one year.
In order to
expedite the delivery of Family Advocate services to families and
injured persons, the Governor shall appoint an interim chairperson
and an interim executive director to serve until such time as the
Board is able to deliberate and determine these issues. It shall
be the responsibility of the initial board to determine the organization
of the board thereafter, including the number of public board members,
their terms, the manner in which they are selected, the selection
of an executive director, and such other matters as the initial
board shall deem appropriate. In determining the manner in which
the public members are selected, the board shall provide that a
majority of those members be selected from among persons recommended
by the Governor. A public member may serve more than one term.
No member
of the board shall engage or participate in any for-profit business
transactions with the corporation.
d. To enter
into agreements with any State, federal or local agency pursuant
to the "Government Employee Interchange Act," P.L. 1967, c.77 (C.52:14-6.10
et seq.).
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This Order shall
take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under
my hand and this 9th
day of February in the Year of Our
Lord, Two Thousand Two, and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Sixth.
/s/ JAMES E.
McGREEVEY
Governor
[seal]
Attest:
/s/ PAUL A. LEVINSOHN
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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