John J. Burzichelli
Deputy Speaker
Third Legislative District
John J. Burzichelli, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, grew up in Paulsboro, Gloucester County, where he currently resides. Mr. Burzichelli served as Mayor of Paulsboro from 1996 to 2011 and began his legislative career in January of 2002, serving as State Assemblyman. Assemblyman Burzichelli is currently an Assembly Deputy Speaker.
John Burzichelli is managing partner of Hill Studio and Scenic in Paulsboro which provides studio services and special effects to the motion picture, video and still photography industry. He is one of the founding members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Paulsboro, and a former President of the Greater Paulsboro Chamber of Commerce.
Currently, Deputy Speaker Burzichelli serves as the Chair to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and as Vice-Chair to the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee. He also serves on the Assembly Budget Committee and the Legislative Services Commission. In 2010, Governor Christie appointed Burzichelli as a permanent member of the New Jersey Red Tape Review Commission, which will continue an ongoing review of New Jersey’s regulatory system.
Mr. Burzichelli was appointed by Speaker Joseph Roberts in 2006 to serve on an extraordinary special session panel on property tax reform which was the Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Reform and Citizens’ Constitutional Convention. Serving as co-chair with Senator Bernard Kenny, Burzichelli and the panel were presented the task of addressing property tax issues with suggestions and possible reforms.
In October 2007, Deputy Speaker Burzichelli was named to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. The Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (“IAC”), formerly known as the Local and State Government Advisory Committee, was created in 1997 to provide guidance to the FCC on issues of importance to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as to the FCC. The IAC spent much time reviewing the crucial digital television transition which occurred on June 12, 2009.
Assemblyman Burzichelli has been involved in a wide range of legislative initiatives legislation that would require law enforcement or prosecuting agencies to provide written notice to the principal of a secondary school of the identity of any student who is 18 years or older who has been charged, adjudicated, or convicted of certain offenses. Currently, law enforcement and prosecuting agencies are required to advise a principal when a charge, adjucation, or disposition of a juvenile takes place. This bill extends the notification to situations involving students who are 18 years of age or older, but who are still enrolled in high school. This measure unanimously passed the Legislature and was signed into law on November 20, 2009.
Leading the effort to curtail the run away ticket prices for high school sports, Burzichelli was the sponsor of a 2007 law that bars the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) from charging more for playoff tickets than it did for tickets during the regular season. A three year window was given to the NJSIAA to enact reforms to how they manage their finances. When the law was not complied with in early 2010, Speaker John Burzichelli and Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney sponsored ACR-116/SCR-88 which directed the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to look into the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association and its finances. The measure passed both houses, and the SCI concluded its report on the NJSIAA in fall 2010 and suggested numerous changes.
Working to streamline state government by doing away with inactive boards, commissions, committees and task forces, Deputy Speaker Burzichelli sponsored Assembly bill A-2851. This measure, designed to make government more efficient to cut costs and improve New Jersey’s business climate, was signed into law on November 3, 2010. The boards and panels eliminated were either inactive for many years or no longer served the purpose for which they were created. The dissolution of these entities was among the recommendations included in the April 2010 Red Tape Review Group report, of which Burzichelli participated in as a member of the Red Tape Review Commission.
In his role as the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Chair, Deputy Speaker Burzichelli has tackled some of the issues that were affecting the gaming and horseracing industries in New Jersey. In 2010, he introduced A-2507 which reduced the 2010 minimum thoroughbred racing dates at Monmouth Park Racetrack by 71 days and Meadowlands Racetrack would be permitted to schedule zero. This measure allowed Monmouth Park to move from out of the top ten to number one in North America in purse offerings. This measure was signed into law on May 22, 2010. Burzichelli has also introduced A-3620 which would establish the “New Jersey Gaming Industry Study Commission,” a measure that would evaluate impact of enacted gaming and technological reforms and explore future prospects for casino gaming and horseracing in this State.
Burzichelli, New Jersey State Assemblyman
Burzichelli’s efforts to keep the casino industry in New Jersey flourishing produced three bills that were signed into law. These bills will not only benefit the Atlantic City region, but the state of New Jersey as well. A-3581 directs the establishment of the Atlantic City Tourism District and it broadens the powers and duties of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). This measure transfers the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority and its functions to CRDA. A-3517 revises various aspects of casino industry regulation and A-2612 establishes alternative methods of casino licensure. These changes that Assemblyman Burzichelli has championed led to the development of the Revel Casino project and the future Hard Rock Café Casino, both of which will bring thousands of jobs to Atlantic City.
Continuing in his efforts to promote New Jersey Agriculture, John Burzichelli co-sponsored legislation that declares a “Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week.” This measure, which advocates the value and importance of New Jersey’s agriculture and fresh farm food for children was signed into law on January 28, 2011. The legislation charges the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to create a bidding matrix that would encourage schools to purchase ‘Jersey Fresh’ local agricultural and farm products. The state Agriculture Department has selected 101 schools in 15 counties to participate in the program for the school calendar year 2010 to 2011.
As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, Burzichelli has been an outspoken proponent for the restoration of the Property Tax Reimbursement Program, commonly known as the “Senior Freeze” program which was designed cover property tax increases to eligible seniors and disabled residents.
Furthering efforts to reduce property taxes, Burzichelli co-sponsored the groundbreaking legislation, S-29/A-3065 introduced by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assemblyman John McKeon which reduced the school district, county and municipal property tax cap from 4 percent to 2 percent.
Deputy Speaker Burzichelli was also opposed to the dismantling of the New Jersey Network (NJN) and worked to keep NJN alive. Burzichelli voiced concern that news coverage for New Jersey may be lost between Philadelphia and New York news programming. He was a co-prime sponsor of ACR201, which would have vetoed the contract to turn over NJN’s operations to WNET, a public media provider of the New York City metropolitan area. The measure failed the Senate by one vote.
In May 2011, Burzichelli was presented with the Walter Rand Award by the New Jersey Alliance for Action for his outstanding public service to the citizens of New Jersey. The award is named in honor of the late Senator Walter Rand, who was known for his great leadership and tireless dedication to serving the people of New Jersey.
Deputy Speaker John J. Burzichelli continues to work hard for the residents of the Third Legislative District, and also for all of New Jersey’s citizens as well.
