Bill Text: NJ A4319 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Legislative review and approval of toll increases or new tolls proposed by toll road authorities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-11-21 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A4319 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A4319-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CHARLOTTE VANDERVALK
District 39 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Legislative review and approval of toll increases or new tolls proposed by toll road authorities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the toll road authorities, amending and supplementing P.L.1948, c.454 and P.L.1991, c.252.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) A resolution or other action of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority providing for an increase in tolls or new tolls which is approved on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be transmitted, prior to taking effect, to the Legislature for its review and approval. The resolution or other action transmitted to the Legislature shall not take effect for 90 days following receipt by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly of a copy of the resolution or a written copy of the other action, along with supportive documentation therefor and a transcript of the public hearing or hearings thereon held in accordance with section 1 of P.L.1977, c.230 (C.27:23‑5.10).
If, within 90 days of receipt of a copy of the resolution or other action, the Senate and General Assembly shall disapprove the toll increase or new toll by adoption of a concurrent resolution to this effect, the toll increase or new toll shall not take effect. Any such concurrent resolution of disapproval shall set forth the reasons for disapproving the resolution or other action and the recommendations of the Legislature thereon. If the Legislature fails to adopt such a resolution within the prescribed period of time, the resolution or other action shall be deemed approved.
2. Section 3 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-3) is amended to read as follows:
3. New Jersey Turnpike Authority. (A) There is hereby established in the State Department of Transportation a body corporate and politic, with corporate succession, to be known as the "New Jersey Turnpike Authority." The authority is hereby constituted an instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this act in the acquisition, construction, operation, improvement, management, repair and maintenance of transportation projects or any part thereof shall be deemed and held to be an essential governmental function of the State.
(B) The New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall consist of eight members, as follows: the Commissioner of Transportation, ex officio, or his designee; five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and two members appointed by the Governor, one upon recommendation of the President of the Senate and the other upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, each of whom shall be a resident of the State and shall have been a qualified elector therein for a period of at least one year next preceding his appointment. Each appointed member of the authority shall serve for a term of five years and until his successor is appointed and has qualified; except that of the first appointments hereunder, one shall be for a term of two years and one for a term of three years, and they shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and have qualified. The term of each of the first appointees hereunder shall be designated by the Governor. Each appointed member of the authority may be removed from office by the Governor, for cause, after a public hearing. Each member of the authority before entering upon his duties shall take and subscribe an oath to perform the duties of his office faithfully, impartially and justly to the best of his ability. A record of such oaths shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. Any vacancies in the appointed membership of the authority occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only.
(C) The Governor shall designate one of the members of the authority as chairman thereof and another member as vice chairman thereof. The chairman and vice chairman of the authority so designated shall serve as such at the pleasure of the Governor and until their respective successors have been designated. The authority shall elect a secretary and a treasurer who need not be members. At the option of the authority the same person may be elected to serve both as secretary and treasurer. Five members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote of five members shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority.
(D) Each member of the authority shall execute a surety bond in the penal sum of $25,000.00 and the treasurer shall execute a surety bond in the penal sum of $50,000.00, each such surety bond to be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office of such member or treasurer, as the case may be, to be executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in the State of New Jersey as surety and to be approved by the Attorney General and filed in the office of the Secretary of State.
(E) The members of the authority shall not receive compensation for their services as members of the authority. Each member shall be reimbursed by the authority for his actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his duties. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no member shall be deemed to have forfeited, nor shall the member forfeit, the member's office or employment or any benefits or emoluments thereof by reason of the member's acceptance of the office of ex officio member of the authority or the member's services therein.
(F) No resolution or other action of the authority providing for the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds or other obligations or for the fixing, revising or adjusting of tolls for the use of any transportation project or parts or sections thereof shall be adopted or otherwise made effective by the authority without the prior approval in writing of the Governor and at least one of the following: the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury. A true copy of the minutes of every meeting of the authority shall be forthwith delivered by and under the certification of the secretary thereof, to the Governor. No action taken at such meeting by the authority shall have force or effect until 10 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, after such copy of the minutes shall have been so delivered. If, in said 10-day period, the Governor returns such copy of the minutes with veto of any action taken by the authority or any member thereof at such meeting such action shall be null and of no effect. The Governor may approve all or part of the action taken at such meeting prior to said 10-day period. A resolution or other action of the authority providing for an increase in tolls or for new tolls, shall not take effect, notwithstanding that the Governor shall approve or fail to veto the resolution or other action within the 10-day period, unless that resolution or other action shall be approved or deemed approved by the Legislature in accordance with section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The powers conferred in this subsection (F) upon the Governor, the Legislature, the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury shall be exercised with due regard for the rights of the holders of bonds of the authority at any time outstanding, and nothing in, or done pursuant to, this subsection (F) shall in any way limit, restrict or alter the obligation or powers of the authority or any representative or officer of the authority to carry out and perform in every detail each and every covenant, agreement or contract at any time made or entered into by or on behalf of the authority with respect to its bonds or for the benefit, protection or security of the holders thereof.
(G) The ex officio member of the authority may designate an employee of his department to represent him at meetings of the authority. A designee may lawfully vote and otherwise act on behalf of the member for whom he constitutes the designee. The designations shall be in writing and delivered to the authority and shall be effective until revoked or amended by a writing delivered to the authority.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.6)
3. Section 5 of P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-5) is amended to read as follows:
5. General grant of powers. The authority shall be a body corporate and politic and shall have perpetual succession and shall have the following powers:
(a) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
(b) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(c) To maintain an office at such place or places within the State as it may designate and to organize itself into such sub-departments, operating divisions or units as it deems appropriate;
(d) To sue and be sued in its own name;
(e) To acquire, improve, construct, maintain, repair, manage, and operate transportation projects or any part thereof at such locations as shall be established by law or by the authority;
(f) To borrow money and issue negotiable bonds for any of its corporate purposes, and to secure the same through the pledging of tolls and other revenues and proceeds of such bonds, or other available sources, and to refund its bonds, and to enter into any credit agreement, all as provided in this act;
(g) In the exercise of any of its powers, by resolution to fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect tolls, fees, licenses, rents, concession charges and other charges for each transportation project or any part thereof constructed or acquired by it. No toll revenues derived from the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway shall be used or available for any transportation project other than a highway project and all transportation projects other than highway projects shall be self-sustaining; provided however that such toll revenues may be used to finance or support the costs of non-highway transportation projects on an interim basis according to such terms, with or without interest, as the authority shall establish;
(h) To establish rules and regulations for the use of any project including restrictions on the type, weight and size of vehicles utilizing transportation projects, and also including the power to exclude from any part of a highway project any traffic other than passenger automobiles if the authority finds that such part is not suitable or sufficient as a highway to carry mixed traffic;
(i) To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this act;
(j) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase or otherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as against the State of New Jersey, any land and other property, which it may determine is reasonably necessary for any transportation project or feeder road or for the relocation or reconstruction of any highway by the authority under the provisions of this act and any and all rights, title and interest in such land and other property, including public lands, parks, playgrounds, reservations, highways or parkways, owned by or in which the State of New Jersey or any county, city, borough, town, township, village, or other political subdivision of the State of New Jersey has any right, title or interest, or parts thereof or rights therein and any fee simple absolute or any lesser interest in private property, and any fee simple absolute in, easements upon, or the benefit of restrictions upon, abutting property to preserve and protect transportation projects.
Upon the exercise of the power of eminent domain, the compensation to be paid thereunder shall be ascertained and paid in the manner provided in the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.361 (C.20:3-1 et seq.), insofar as the provisions thereof are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions contained in this act. The authority may join in separate subdivisions in one petition or complaint the descriptions of any number of tracts or parcels of land or property to be condemned and the names of any number of owners and other parties who may have an interest therein and all such land or property included in said petition or complaint may be condemned in a single proceeding; provided, however, that separate awards be made for each tract or parcel of land or property; and provided, further, that each of said tracts or parcels of land or property lies wholly in or has a substantial part of its value lying wholly within the same county.
Upon the filing of such petition or complaint or at any time thereafter the authority may file with the clerk of the county in which such property is located and also with the Clerk of the Superior Court a declaration of taking, signed by the authority, declaring that possession of one or more of the tracts or parcels of land or property described in the petition or complaint is thereby being taken by and for the use of the authority. The said declaration of taking shall be sufficient if it sets forth: (1) a description of each tract or parcel of land or property to be so taken sufficient for the identification thereof, to which there may or may not be attached a plan or map thereof; (2) a statement of the estate or interest in the said land or property being taken; and (3) a statement of the sum of money estimated by the authority by resolution to be just compensation for the taking of the estate or interest in each tract or parcel of land or property described in said declaration.
Upon the filing of the said declaration, the authority shall deposit with the Clerk of the Superior Court the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration.
Upon the filing of the said declaration as aforesaid and depositing with the Clerk of the Superior Court the amount of the estimated compensation stated in said declaration, the authority, without other process or proceedings, shall be entitled to the exclusive possession and use of each tract of land or property described in said declaration and may forthwith enter into and take possession of said land or property, it being the intent of this provision that the proceedings for compensation or any other proceedings relating to the taking of said land or interest therein or other property shall not delay the taking of possession thereof and the use thereof by the authority for the purpose or purposes for which the authority is authorized by law to acquire or condemn such land or other property or interest therein.
The authority shall cause notice of the filing of said declaration and the making of said deposit to be served upon each party in interest named in the petition residing in this State, either personally or by leaving a copy thereof at his residence, if known, and upon each party in interest residing out of the State, by mailing a copy thereof to him at his residence, if known. In the event that the residence of any such party or the name of such party is unknown, such notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper published or circulating in the county or counties in which the land is located. Upon the application of any party in interest and after notice to other parties in interest, including the authority, any judge of the Superior Court assigned to sit for said county may order that the money deposited with the Clerk of the Superior Court or any part thereof be paid forthwith to the person or persons entitled thereto for or on account of the just compensation to be awarded in said proceeding; provided, that each such person shall have filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court a consent in writing that, in the event the award in the condemnation proceeding shall be less than the amount deposited, the court, after notice as herein provided and hearing, may determine his liability, if any, for the return of such difference or any part thereof and enter judgment therefor. If the amount of the award as finally determined shall exceed the amount so deposited, the person or persons to whom the award is payable shall be entitled to recover from the authority the difference between the amount of the deposit and the amount of the award, with interest at the rate of six per centum (6%) per annum thereon from the date of making the deposit. If the amount of the award shall be less than the amount so deposited, the Clerk of the Superior Court shall return the difference between the amount of the award and the deposit to the authority, unless the amount of the deposit or any part thereof shall have theretofore been distributed, in which event the court, on petition of the authority and notice to all persons interested in the award and affording them an opportunity to be heard, shall enter judgment in favor of the authority for such difference against the party or parties liable for the return thereof. The authority shall cause notice of the date fixed for such hearing to be served upon each party thereto residing in this State, either personally or by leaving a copy thereof at his residence, if known, and upon each party residing out of the State, by mailing a copy to him at his residence, if known. In the event that the residence of any party or the name of such party is unknown, such notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper published or circulating in the county or counties in which the land is located. Such service, mailing or publication shall be made at least 10 days before the date fixed for such hearing.
Whenever under the "Eminent Domain Act of 1971" the amount of the award may be paid into court, payment may be made into the Superior Court and may be distributed according to law;
(k) To designate the locations, and establish, limit and control such points of ingress to and egress from each highway or transportation project as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the proper operation and maintenance of such project, and to prohibit entrance to such project from any point or points not so designated;
(l) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this act and to enter into contracts with federal, State and local governments and private entities for the financing, administration, operation, management and construction of transportation projects;
(m) To appoint such additional officers, who need not be members of the authority, as the authority deems advisable, and to employ consulting engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other similarly situated employees and agents as may be necessary in its judgment; to fix their compensation; and to promote and discharge such officers, employees and agents, all without regard to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes;
(n) To receive and accept from any federal agency, subject to the approval of the Governor, grants for or in aid of the acquisition or construction of any transportation project or any part thereof, and to receive and accept aid or contributions, from any source, of either money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made;
(o) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly or impliedly granted in this act;
(p) Subject to any agreement with the bondholders, to invest moneys of the authority not required for immediate use, including proceeds from the sale of any bonds, in such obligations, securities and other investments as the authority shall deem prudent;
(q) To apply for, receive and accept from any federal agency, any bistate agency, or the State and any subdivision thereof, grants for or in aid of the planning, acquisition, management, maintenance, operation or construction of any project, and to receive and accept aid or contributions from any other public or private source, of either money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which those grants and contributions may be made;
(r) To procure and enter into contracts for any type of insurance and to indemnify against loss or damage to property from any cause, including the loss of use and occupancy and business interruption, death or injury of any person, employee liability, any act of any member, officer, employee or servant of the authority, whether part-time, compensated or uncompensated, in the performance of the duties of office or employment or any other insurable risk or any other losses in connection with property, operations, assets or obligations in any amounts and from any insurers as are deemed desirable. In addition, the authority may carry its own liability insurance;
(s) To adopt regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to provide open and competitive procedures for awarding contracts for towing and storage services. Towing and storage services on a highway project may be provided on a rotating basis, provided that the authority determines that there would be no additional cost to the authority, excepting administrative costs, as a result of those services being provided on a rotating basis. The regulations shall fix maximum towing and storage fees, and establish objective criteria to be considered in awarding a contract for towing and storage services which shall include, but shall not be limited to, reliability, experience, response time, acceptance of credit cards and prepaid towing contracts, adequate equipment to safely handle a sufficient volume of common vehicle types under a variety of traffic and weather conditions, location of storage and repair facilities, security of vehicles towed or stored, financial return to the authority, maintenance of adequate liability insurance and appropriate safeguards to protect the personal safety of customers, including considerations related to the criminal background of employees. The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall provide, at the authority's request, a report to the authority on any prospective contractor for which the division has information relevant to the prospective contractor's service record, subject to the provisions of the New Jersey consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). The Division of Insurance Fraud Prevention in the Department of Banking and Insurance also shall provide, at the authority's request, a report to the authority on any prospective contractor for which the division has information relevant to the prospective contractor's service record, subject to the "New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act," P.L.1983, c.320 (C.17:33A-1 et seq.);
(t) To adopt, prior to the Transfer Date and notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes or other obligations on such terms as otherwise provided for in this act for the retirement by defeasance, redemption, secondary market purchase, tender payment at maturity or otherwise, of all of the New Jersey Highway Authority's outstanding bonds, notes or other obligations, as if the Transfer Date transferring to the authority the rights, duties and obligations to operate, maintain and manage the Garden State Parkway had already occurred; and
(u) To transfer, sell, dispose of, or otherwise relinquish all right, title, or interest in the Garden State Arts Center, and any related or auxiliary facilities, to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, established by P.L.1971, c.137 (C.5:10-1 et seq.), or to any other entity, according to such terms and process as the authority may establish in its discretion.
(v) Following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the portion of any toll revenue raised by the authority that derives from an increase in tolls or a new toll authorized pursuant to this section and approved in accordance with section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall only be used for capital improvement debt service.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.79, s.9)
4. (New section) A resolution or other action of the South Jersey Transportation Authority providing for an increase in tolls or new tolls which is adopted on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall be transmitted, prior to taking effect, to the Legislature for its review and approval. The resolution or other action transmitted to the Legislature shall not take effect for 90 days following receipt by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly of a copy of the resolution or a written copy of the other action, along with supportive documentation therefor and a transcript of the public hearing or hearings thereon held in accordance with section 20 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A‑20).
If, within 90 days of receipt of a copy of the resolution or other action, the Senate and General Assembly may disapprove the toll increase or new toll by adoption of a concurrent resolution to this effect, the toll increase or new toll shall not take effect. Any such concurrent resolution of disapproval shall set forth the reasons for disapproving the resolution or other action and the recommendations of the Legislature thereon. If the Legislature fails to adopt such a resolution within the prescribed period of time, the resolution or other action shall be deemed approved.
5. Section 7 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-7) is amended to read as follows:
7. The authority shall have the following powers:
a. To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
b. To adopt an official common seal and alter it at its pleasure;
c. To maintain an office at a place or places within the State as it may designate;
d. To sue and be sued in its own name;
e. To acquire, construct, maintain, operate and support projects;
f. To assist in planning for the development of the transportation system in South Jersey, in conjunction with federal, State, local, and other public entities, as appropriate;
g. To acquire, construct, maintain, and operate feeder roads;
h. To issue bonds or notes of the authority for the purposes of this act and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof as provided in this act;
i. In the exercise of any of its powers, to fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect tolls, fares, passenger facility charges or other charges for transit over or use of any project of the authority, including but not limited to any reduced fare or charge programs as deemed appropriate by the authority; and to determine levels of service to be provided by the authority either directly or by contract. Any revenues collected shall be available to the authority for use in furtherance of any of the purposes of this act ; provided, however, that following the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the portion of any toll revenue raised by the authority that derives from an increase in tolls or a new toll authorized pursuant to this subsection shall only be used for capital improvement debt service;
j. To set and collect rents, fees, charges or other payments for the lease, use, occupancy or disposition of properties owned or leased by the authority. Any revenues collected shall be available to the authority for use in furtherance of any of the purposes of this act;
k. To enter into contracts with any public or private entity to operate motorbus regular route service, motorbus charter service, marine passenger service, rail passenger service, and air passenger service or portions or functions thereof; however, these contracts shall not supplant any services operated pursuant to the "New Jersey Public Transportation Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et seq.);
l. To acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, own, rent, use, hold and dispose of real property and personal property or any interest therein, in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this act;
m. To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase, gift or otherwise, on terms and conditions and in a manner as the authority may deem proper, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain except as against the State of New Jersey, any land and other property which the authority may determine is necessary for any project or for the relocation or reconstruction of any public highway by the authority under the provisions of this act or the construction of any feeder road which the authority is or may be authorized to construct and any and all rights, title and interest in that land and other property, including public lands, parks, playgrounds, reservations, highways or parkways owned by or in which the State of New Jersey or any county, municipality or other governmental subdivision of South Jersey or any other federal, State or local government entity has any right, title or interest, or parts thereof or rights therein, and any fee simple absolute or any lesser interest in private property, and any fee simple absolute in, easements upon, or the benefit of restrictions upon abutting property to preserve and protect projects;
n. To grant by franchise, lease or otherwise, the use of any project, facility or property owned and controlled by the authority to any person for the consideration and for the period or periods of time and upon terms and conditions as are agreed upon, including but not limited to, the condition that the lessee may construct or provide any buildings or structures for the project facility or property or portions thereof;
o. To locate and designate, and to establish, limit and control points of ingress to and egress from each project as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the proper operation and maintenance of that project and to prohibit entrance to a project from any point or points not so designated;
p. Subject to the limitations of this act, to acquire, construct, maintain, or operate any public highway connecting with any one or more projects which in the opinion of the authority will increase the use of a project or projects, to take over for construction, maintenance or operation any existing public highway as a feeder road and to realign any existing public highway and build additional sections of road over new alignment in connection with that existing public highway;
q. To establish rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as are necessary for the management and regulation of its affairs, the use, maintenance and operation of the transportation system, any project, the properties of the authority and the provision of paratransit services to and from any transportation project and to establish a plan for the management, control and regulation of motorbus regular route and motorbus charter services, except for those services which are operated pursuant to the "New Jersey Public Transportation Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et seq.);
r. To apply for, receive and accept from any federal agency, any bi-State agency, or the State and any subdivision thereof, subject to the approval of the commissioner, grants for or in aid of the planning, acquisition or construction of any project, and to receive and accept aid or contributions from any other public or private source, of either money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which those grants and contributions may be made;
s. Subject to the limitations of this act, to determine the location, type and character of any project and all other matters in connection with the project;
t. Subject to the rights and security interests of the holders from time to time of bonds or notes issued by the authority, to enter into contracts with the State or the department or the Transportation Trust Fund Authority, providing for the payment from the revenues of the authority to the State or to the Transportation Trust Fund Authority of the amount or amounts of revenues that may be set forth in or determined in accordance with the contracts, provided, that the payments shall be used solely for financing projects in South Jersey, including the payment of principal and interest on any bonds, notes or other obligations issued or entered into by the Transportation Trust Fund Authority, the proceeds of which shall be allocated by the Transportation Trust Fund Authority to projects within South Jersey; any contracts authorized pursuant to this subsection may include conditions and covenants necessary and desirable to facilitate the issuance and sale of bonds, notes and other obligations of the Transportation Trust Fund Authority;
u. To enter into contracts or agreements with any entity for the entity to issue bonds or notes on behalf of the authority and to make payments to the entity to secure those bonds or notes;
v. To establish any reserves, funds or accounts as may be deemed necessary by the authority and to deposit authority revenues in interest bearing accounts or in the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1977 c.281 (C.52:18A-90.4);
w. To procure and enter into contracts for any type of insurance and indemnify against loss or damage to property from any cause, including the loss of use and occupancy and business interruption, death or injury of any person, employee liability, any act of any member, officer, employee or servant of the authority, whether part-time, compensated or uncompensated, in the performance of the duties of office or employment or any other insurable risk or any other losses in connection with property, operations, assets or obligations in any amounts and from any insurers as are deemed desirable. In addition, the authority may carry its own liability insurance; and
x. To enter into any and all agreements or contracts, execute any and all instruments, and do and perform any and all acts or things necessary, convenient or desirable for the purposes of the authority or to carry out any power expressly given in this act.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.252, s.7)
6. Section 14 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-14) is amended to read as follows:
14. No resolution or other action of the authority providing for the issuance of bonds, notes, refunding bonds or other obligations or for the fixing, revising or adjusting of tolls, fares or charges for the use of any project or parts or sections thereof shall be adopted or otherwise made effective by the authority without the prior approval in writing of the Governor and either the State Treasurer or the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.
A true copy of the minutes of every meeting of the authority shall be forthwith delivered by and under the certification of the secretary thereof to the Governor. No action taken at that meeting by the authority shall have force or effect until the earlier of 15 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, after the copy of the minutes shall have been so delivered, or the approval thereof by the Governor; except that a resolution or other action of the authority providing for an increase in tolls or for new tolls, shall not take effect, notwithstanding that the Governor shall approve or fail to veto the resolution or other action within the 10-day period, unless that resolution or other action shall be approved or deemed approved by the Legislature in accordance with section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). If, in the 15‑day period, the Governor returns the copy of the minutes with veto of any action taken by the authority or any member thereof at that meeting, the action shall be null and of no effect. The minutes of any meeting at which the authority proposes or approves its operating or capital outlay budget shall include a copy of that budget.
The powers conferred by this section, upon the Governor, the State Treasurer and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury shall be exercised with due regard for the rights of the holders of bonds of the authority or other entity, if applicable, at any time outstanding, and nothing in, or done pursuant to, this section shall in any way limit, restrict or alter the obligation or powers of the authority, or any representative or officer of the authority, to carry out and perform in every detail each and every covenant, agreement or contract at any time made or entered into by or on behalf of the authority with respect to its bonds or for the benefit, protection or security of the holders thereof.
(cf: P.L. 1991, c.252, s.14)
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the two toll road authorities, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, to transmit proposed highway toll increases or new tolls to the Senate and General Assembly prior to their taking effect. The Legislature, by concurrent resolution, may disapprove the toll increase or new toll within 90 days of receipt of the transmission. If the Legislature fails to act within the prescribed period of time, the proposed toll increase or new toll shall be deemed to be approved.
The bill also provides that any toll revenue raised by the two toll road authorities from an increase in tolls or a new toll shall only be used for capital improvement debt service.
