ASSEMBLY, No. 1353

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman STUHLTRAGER

An Act concerning certified county purchasing officials and amending N.J.S.40A:9-30.

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

    1. N.J.S.40A:9-30 is amended to read as follows:

    40A:9-30. The board of chosen freeholders of any county may appoint a purchasing agent for a term of 3 years and authorize him to establish classifications and standards for the purchase of supplies and materials for the use of all county institutions, departments and buildings. The county purchasing agent, subject to directions of the board, shall make purchases, execute contracts and perform such functions and duties as may be required and necessary.

    The term of any purchasing agent who is reappointed and who has attained certification as a certified county purchasing official pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1981, c.380 (C.40A:9-30.1 et seq.) shall be five years.

(cf: N.J.S.40A:9-30)

    2. This act shall take effect 30 days next following enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill would provide for a five-year term upon the reappointment of a county purchasing agent who has attained certification as a county purchasing official pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1981, c.380 (C.40A:9-30.1 et seq.).

    Currently, county purchasing agents are appointed for three-year terms. The possibility of reappointment for a five-year term would provide an incentive to county purchasing agents to attain certification by the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs as certified county purchasing officials. The certification of these county officials would be of significant interest to county taxpayers and to county governments, as taking the courses necessary for certification would make county purchasing agents more qualified for the job.

    Certification as a county purchasing official would not provide tenure in office to county purchasing agents; however, if a county purchasing agent who has attained certification is reappointed, the term shall be for five years.

Permits five-year reappointment of certified county purchasing officials.