Bill Text: NJ A2534 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes "Government Functions and Services Study Commission."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-03 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A2534 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A2534-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 2534

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 3, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes "Government Functions and Services Study Commission."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act creating a commission to study the functions and services of county government.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   There is established a study commission to be known as the "Government Functions and Services Study Commission," to review the effectiveness of county government in providing services and performing functions in relation to those provided and performed by State and municipal government and to offer recommendations for reassigning certain functions and services from one level of government to another.

     b.    The commission shall consist of nine members.  Four members shall be members of the Legislature, one member shall be the Commissioner of Community Affairs ex officio, or his or her designee, and four members shall be members of the public to be appointed by the Governor.

     c.     Two of the legislative members, who shall not be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and two of the legislative members, who shall not be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.  One of the members named by the President of the Senate shall be a nominee of the Minority Leader of the Senate.  One of the members named by the Speaker of the General Assembly shall be a nominee of the Minority Leader of the General Assembly.  The members appointed from the Senate and the General Assembly shall serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointment is made.

     d.    Of the four public members to be appointed by the Governor, one shall be a nominee of the New Jersey Association of Counties, one shall be a nominee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and two shall be named by the Governor from among the citizens of the State, however, no more than two of the four public members shall be members of the same political party.  The Governor shall name members to the commission within 60 days of the effective date of P.L.    , c .    (C.    ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

     e.     The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among the public members of the commission.  The members of the commission shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.  Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.  The members shall serve without remuneration, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in

the performance of their official duties, within the limits of funds made available to the commission for its purposes.

 

     2.    The commission shall meet as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members.  The commission may meet and hold hearings at any place or places it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.  The commission shall hold at least three public hearings and shall elicit the participation of the general public as well as experts on State, county and municipal government.

 

     3.    The Executive Director of the Office of Legislative Services shall provide such technical, stenographic  and secretarial assistance as may be required by the commission.  The commission may also request the assistance and services of the employees of any other State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, task force, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and incur travel and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.

 

     4.    It shall be the duty of the study commission to review the laws and regulations governing the functions of county government and services provided by county government to the people of this State, and to make recommendations as to whether those functions and services are currently being performed in the most effective and economical manner.  The commission shall also determine whether those functions and services can be performed more efficiently and effectively by State or municipal government and whether any functions and services now being provided by State or municipal government may be more efficiently and effectively performed by county government.  If so, the study commission shall recommend to the Governor and the Legislature a plan for the reassignment of those functions and services that it deems better provided by a different level of government to the appropriate governmental entity.

     The commission shall report its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature upon completion of its work, but not later than 12 months after the initial appointment of a majority of its members.  The commission shall accompany the report with any recommendations for legislation which it may have concerning the effectiveness of county government.

 

     5.    The commission shall expire upon the issuance of its final report and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislature.

 

     6.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would establish the "Government Functions and Services Study Commission," to review the effectiveness of county government in providing services and performing functions in relation to those provided and performed by State and municipal government and to offer recommendations for reassigning certain functions and services from one level of government to another.

     The bill would require the commission to review the laws and regulations governing the functions of, and services provided by, county government and to determine whether those functions and services are being performed effectively and economically.  The bill would also require the commission to determine whether those functions and services could be performed more efficiently and effectively by State or municipal government and whether any functions and services now being provided by State or municipal government may be more efficiently and effectively performed by county government.  If so, the study commission would recommend to the Governor and the Legislature a plan for the reassignment of those functions and services that it deems better provided by a different level of government to the appropriate governmental entity.

     The commission would consist of nine members:  four members of the Legislature, four public members to be appointed by the Governor, and the Commissioner of Community Affairs, ex officio, or his or her designee.  Two of the legislative members would be Senators who would be appointed by the Senate President, one of whom would be a nominee of the Senate Minority Leader.  The other two legislative members would be members of the General Assembly who would be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom would be a nominee of the Assembly Minority Leader.

     Of the four gubernatorial appointees, one would be a nominee of the New Jersey Association of Counties, one would be a nominee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and two would be citizens of the State.  No more than two of the four public members could be members of the same political party.  The Governor would be required to name members to the commission within 60 days of the bill's effective date.  The Governor would appoint a chairperson of the commission from among the public members.  The commission would be required to report its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature not later than 12 months after the initial appointment of a majority of its members.

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