Bill Text: NJ A3823 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns consolidation of NJTA and SJTA.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-10-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A3823 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3823-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns consolidation of NJTA and SJTA.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the consolidation of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the "New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority Consolidation Commission." The commission is to consist of five members to be appointed as follows: two members to be appointed by the Governor with professional background and expertise in the area of transportation policy, one of whom shall be from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and one of whom shall be from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; one public member to be appointed by the Senate President; one public member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and one public member to be appointed by the Governor with professional background and expertise in public finance.
2. a. Members of the commission shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The commission shall organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members, and shall select a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission.
b. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission.
3. The commission shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 12 months following the organization of the commission concerning the consolidation of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority. The report shall include the commission's findings and recommendations concerning potential issues posed by the consolidation including, but not limited to: legal matters, including review of bond covenants and labor issues; operational matters; and financial matters, including savings and costs. The commission shall submit with its recommendations a legislative proposal to consolidate the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority for adoption by the Legislature.
4. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
5. The commission may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates, at which it may request the appearance of officials of any State agency or political subdivision of the State and may solicit testimony of interested groups and the general public.
6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission of the report required pursuant to section 3 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill creates the "New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority Consolidation Commission" (commission). The commission is to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year concerning the consolidation of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA). The report is to include the commission's findings and recommendations concerning potential issues posed by the consolidation including: (1) legal matters, including review of bond covenants and labor issues; (2) operational matters; and (3) financial matters, including savings and costs. The commission is to submit with its recommendations a legislative proposal to consolidate the NJTA and SJTA for adoption by the Legislature.
The commission is to consist of five members to be appointed as follows: two members to be appointed by the Governor with professional background and expertise in the area of transportation policy, one of whom shall be from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the other from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; one public member to be appointed by the Senate President; one public member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and one public member to be appointed by the Governor with professional background and expertise in public finance.
