WHEREAS, the Office of the Business Ombudsman was created to assist businesses in dealing efficiently with various State regulations governing various commercial, industrial and residential projects or activities in this State; and

WHEREAS, the Office of the Business Ombudsman is presently located in the Department of State pursuant to Executive Order No. 15 (1994); and

WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Economic Development will, commencing on or about July 1, 1997, establish an Account Management System (hereinafter referred to as "AMS"); and

WHEREAS, the AMS is a proactive, integrated business retention and expansion strategy focused on providing professional, coordinated services to existing New Jersey businesses so that they remain competitive, and become more competitive, in their respective markets; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a single point of operations to exclusively coordinate an efficient and timely process for submission, evaluation and resolution of applications for business permits, licenses, certificates and other approvals, and for the maintenance and attraction of business in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of the AMS dictates that the Office of the Business Ombudsman will more efficiently serve the business community if it is located in the Department of Commerce;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, 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. Executive Order No. 15 is hereby rescinded effective July 1, 1997.

2. All functions of the Office of the Business Ombudsman previously established in the Department of State by Executive Order No. 15 shall be transferred to the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and may be merged with departmental operations including the Account Management System, as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

3. The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, or his designee, shall replace the Secretary of State on the Cabinet Committee on Permit Coordination (hereinafter "Cabinet Committee"), which Cabinet Committee was reconstituted pursuant to Executive Order No. 100 (Kean). Moreover, the Commissioner, or his designee, shall replace the Secretary of State as Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee. The Commissioner shall appoint an Executive Director of the Cabinet Committee.

4. This Order shall take effect July 1, 1997.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 27th day of June in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-Seven, and
of the Independence of the United
States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-First.

[seal]

/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

Attest:

/s/ Michael P. Torpey
Chief Counsel to the Governor