TRENTON — The Task Force charged by Governor Phil Murphy with investigating billions of dollars in economic incentives approved by the NJ Economic Development Authority since 2013 will hold the second day of its public hearing on Thursday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m.

At the hearing, the Task Force will interview several witnesses as members seek to determine if $11 billion in tax incentives and credits were properly awarded and if the agency applied appropriate scrutiny to tax-incentive applications. The Task Force will also explore some of the special interests that played a role in shaping key aspects of the legislation, the Economic Opportunity Act of 2013, and EDA’s implementing regulations.

The hearing will feature both current and former executives of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the entity which oversees the tax-incentive programs.

Spurred by a report from the State Comptroller that disclosed a lack of monitoring and oversight over past awards, as well as thousands of jobs that could not be substantiated, the Task Force has begun the job of reviewing every award with any paid benefits under two tax-incentive programs.

What: An open public hearing of the Task Force, chaired by Ronald K. Chen, former New Jersey Public Advocate and Dean of Rutgers School of Law-Newark, who is receiving legal counsel from Special Counsel Jim Walden, Georgia Winston, Milton Williamsand Avni Patel of Walden Macht & Haran LLP, a leading law firm in government investigations, and Special Counsel Pablo Quinones of Quiñones Law PLLC, a boutique law firm with expertise in corporate compliance and integrity monitoring.

Who: Task Force Chair Professor Ronald Chen and his team will provide a status report on the progress of their work, calling witnesses who will come forward to discuss the administration of, and compliance with, N.J. tax-incentive programs. Jim Walden, Special Counsel to the Task Force, together with other members of the Special Counsel team, will interview witnesses who have been subpoenaed to testify at the hearing. The Task Force is currently working on its first report, which will make recommendations to the Governor on improvements to any future tax-incentive legislation, as well as enhancements to EDA’s oversight over tax-incentive programs.

When: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 2, 2019

Where: Rutgers Law School, Baker Trial Courtroom, 123 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102