State of New Jersey
Executive Order #134

Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, terrorists injured or killed thousands of innocent victims in the United States by hijacking and crashing four commercial airliners; and

WHEREAS, two of the commercial airliners were crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one commercial airliner was crashed into the Pentagon while another crashed in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that a significant percentage of the victims in these attacks were residents of the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, while this a national crisis, the toll on the State of New Jersey and its residents has been severe; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has fully mobilized State and local resources to support victim assistance efforts; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey recognizes the need to remember and honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks;
and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to create a New Jersey World Trade Center Victims Memorial Commission (hereinafter "Commission") under the supervision of the Governor that will develop a concept for and recommend the nature of a permanent memorial in honor of the New Jersey victims of the attacks; and

WHEREAS, the Commission will further recommend either the creation of a non-profit foundation to assure the funding of the design, selection and construction of the memorial or recommend the designation of an existing fund to carry out such responsibility;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donald T. DiFrancesco, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby

ORDER and DIRECT:

1. There is hereby established in, but not of, the Department of Treasury the New Jersey World Trade Center Victims Memorial Commission.

2. The Commission shall be directly appointed by and shall serve for the term specified herein. The Commission shall consist of seventeen members. As part of the seventeen members, there shall be three co-chairs to be directly appointed by the Governor. The Commission shall consist of the following members:

(a) The State Treasurer, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(b) The Adjutant General, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(c) The Attorney General, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(d) The Secretary of State, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(e) The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Protection, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(f) The Recovery Coordinator from the Office of Recovery and
Victim Assistance, or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(g) The Chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,
or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
(h) Six public members directly appointed by the Governor.
(i) In addition to the members directly appointed by the
Governor, the Senate President shall recommend two members from
different party affiliations for direct appointment by the
Governor.
(j) In addition to the members directly appointed by the
Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly shall recommend two members
from different party affiliations for direct appointment by the
Governor.

3. The Commission shall organize and meet as soon as practicable after the appointment of the majority of its members. Each member shall hold office for a period of two years and until his or her successor is appointed. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on the Commission for any reason other than the expiration of the term shall

4. have a term of appointment for the unexpired term only. A member may be appointed for any number of successive terms. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members.

5. The Office of the Governor shall provide staffing necessary to facilitate the needs of the Commission.

6. The Commission shall develop a concept for and recommend to the Governor and the Legislature the nature of a permanent memorial in honor of the New Jersey victims of the attacks.

7. The Commission will further recommend either the creation of a non-profit foundation to assure the funding of the design selection and construction of the memorial or recommend the designation of an existing fund to carry out such responsiblity.

8. The Commission is authorized to utilize any and all outside resources, including consultants and experts, deemed necessry to discharge its responsibilities under this Order, subject to appropriation.

9. The Commission is authorized to call upon any department, office or agency of State government to provide such informtion, resources or other assistance deemed necessary to dischargeits responsibilities under this Order. Each department, office division and agency of this State is hereby required to cooerate with the Commission and to furnish it with such information personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

10. The Memorial shall be sited at a suitable location within the grounds of Liberty State Park.

11. The Commission is charged with delivering a preliminary report to the Governor and the Legislature within 75 days of the adoption of this Order. A final report is to be returned to the Governor in 180 days.

12. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 3rd day of
October in the Year of
our Lord, Two Thousand and
One, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two
hundred and twenty-sixth.

/s/ Donald T. DiFrancesco
Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest:
/s/ James A. Harkness
Chief Counsel to the Governor