The state Legislature on Monday embraced Gov. Chris Christie's plan to offer Amazon $100,000 per job it creates should it build its sought-after second headquarters in Newark.

New Jersey's offer, which could total $5 billion in tax breaks, rivals some of the largest incentive packages hatched by states looking to land big businesses, and would set a record within the state.

These deals are often controversial, with governments giving away their claim to badly needed tax dollars businesses would generate otherwise. But those same tax dollars and the ancillary economic benefits wouldn't exist at all, supporters say, if the business located somewhere else.

Here, lawmakers said the rare opportunity to compete for such a major development -- Amazon predicts it will hire 50,000 workers and invest $5 billion in its new headquarters -- is too big an opportunity to risk coming up short.

"When a company like Amazon is looking to invest billions and create tens of thousands of jobs, we simply cannot afford to be overlooked," state Sen. Samuel Thompson, R-Middlesex, a bill sponsor, said in a statement. "This legislation sends the message that New Jersey is a serious contender."

Christie's administration has said residents stand to gain some $9 billion in economic benefits if Amazon comes.

The state's offer includes $10,000 per job per year Amazon creates for 10 years. Amazon has said many of these jobs will pay more than $100,000 a year.

If the online giant earned tax credits that exceed its corporate income tax liability, it could roll those credits forward for up to 50 years to reduce future taxes. It could even sell up to $25 million in credits a year to other businesses, with the stipulation the proceeds must be spent on infrastructure improvements at its facility.

Newark, a riot-scarred city with fits and starts of economic revitalization, is kicking in another $2 billion in incentives, including a city property tax abatement that could be worth $1 billion and a city wage tax waiver that would allow Amazon HQ2 employees to keep an estimated $1 billion of their earnings for up to 20 years, according to the governor's office.

So generous is the package devised by Christie that the Legislature had to change the state's existing rules for tax credits. They did so Monday, voting 30-3 in the state Senate and 61-10 in the state Assembly to create the Transformative Headquarters Economic Assistance Program.

Eligible projects, according to the legislation, must generate at least 30,000 new jobs and invest at least $3 billion in developing and improving their property.

Newark applied in October for the chance to host the retail giant, putting itself in competition with 237 other eager North American locales that assembled viral videos, creative pitches and often tax breaks to get the competitive edge.

Amazon has said it wants to be in a metropolitan area within 30 miles of a population center, 45 minutes of an international airport and no more than one or two miles from major highways.

Experts say Newark isn't likely to be high on Amazon's list.

Moody's Analytics's list of Top 10 candidates led with Austin, Texas, followed by Atlanta, Philadelphia, Rochester, N.Y., New York/Jersey City, Miami, Portland, Ore., Boston and Salt Lake City.

Newark's bid has been criticized as too generous by those who call corporate tax breaks a race to the bottom. Christie's administration dramatically scaled up the state's awards to recruit and retain businesses.

State Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, voted against the Amazon package, saying "New Jersey shouldn't be in the business of picking winners and losers, nor should we give special tax breaks to a company that's driving our mom and pop shops out of business."

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.