SENATE BILL NO. 4139

(First Reprint)

To the Senate:

     Pursuant to Article V, Section I, Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I herewith return Senate Bill No. 4139 (First Reprint) without my approval.

     This bill would make a Fiscal Year 2020 supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to Rutgers University – New Brunswick for the School of Dental Medicine – Special Care Treatment Center.  The center specializes in treating patients with disabilities and treats more than 4,000 patients annually, drawing patients from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York.

While I fully support the mission of the Special Treatment Center, I cannot endorse this legislation at this time.  The more appropriate approach to dealing with funding choices such as those contemplated in this bill is through the annual budget process.  Funding decisions should not be made in a vacuum or through an ad hoc approach without consideration of the broader process of allocating resources to the competing programs, services, interests, and obligations of the State that our taxpayers ultimately fund.

Accordingly, I herewith return Senate Bill No. 4139 (First Reprint) without my approval.

                                  Respectfully,

              [seal]             /s/ Philip D. Murphy

Governor

Attest:

/s/ Matthew J. Platkin

Chief Counsel to the Governor