Bill Text: NJ A5338 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires certain transportation research to consider needs of individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-2)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-06-30 - Senate Amendment (29-0) (Diegnan) [A5338 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A5338-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 5338
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 27, 2021
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, McKnight, Assemblymen Conaway, Verrelli, Assemblywomen Dunn, B.DeCroce, Assemblymen Mejia, Karabinchak, Assemblywomen Downey, Swain, Assemblymen Tully and Freiman
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain transportation research to consider needs of individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on June 30, 2021.
An Act concerning transportation research and amending P.L.2019, c.196.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 4 of P.L.2019, c.196 (C.27:1B-21.36) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. 1[There is hereby established within the Department of Transportation, the] The1 New Jersey Transportation Research 1[Center] Bureau within the Department of Transportation1, hereinafter referred to as the 1[center] bureau, shall serve as a transportation research center for the State1.
b. The 1[center shall be located within the Department of Transportation, and the center] bureau1 shall award research contracts to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education to conduct the research activities of the 1[center] bureau1. The award of those research contracts shall be subject to all relevant existing State and federally established public bidding regulations and processes.
c. The 1[center] bureau1 shall identify specific areas of transportation expertise for New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, where all research undertaken by the 1[center] bureau1 in that area of expertise is to occur, and shall be subject to all relevant existing State and federally established public bidding regulations and processes.
d. The Commissioner of Transportation shall appoint a 1[director] manager1 for the 1[center] bureau1. The duties of the 1[director] manager1 shall include but not be limited to:
(1) Administering and operating the 1[center] bureau1;
(2) Overseeing research undertaken by the 1[center] bureau1;
(3) Establishing and maintaining relationships with New Jersey public research institutions of higher education;
(4) Supporting New Jersey public research institutions of higher education in obtaining and maintaining University Transportation Center status under the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's University Transportation Center Program; and
(5) Authorizing competitive bidding for research contracts to include entities in addition to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, notwithstanding the provisions of subsections b. and c. of this section to the contrary, after making a written determination that the department stands to benefit from additional competition in terms of quality of work product, timeliness of work product delivery, or availability of expertise in one or more specific transportation areas.
e. Any contract entered into pursuant to this section shall include a provision that requires research conducted under the contract to consider the transportation and mobility needs of New Jersey residents with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
f. For purposes of this section, "entities" means an entity that is organized as a non-profit organization. "Entities" shall not include a municipal planning organization or a municipal planning organization-related entity, regardless of whether it is organized as a non-profit organization.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.196, s.4)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
