ASSEMBLY, No. 1524

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 1996

By Assemblywoman CRECCO and Assemblyman GREGG

An Act concerning county correctional facilities and supplementing chapter 8 of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. a. The governing body of any county may enter into a contract with a private, for-profit entity to operate and maintain a commissary for the sale of commodities to the inmates, visitors and personnel of the county correctional facility.

    b. The governing body of any county may enter into a contract for the provision of food services with a central food service facility that is established by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Human Services to service State prisons and facilities.

    c. The contract shall be made, negotiated and awarded in conformance with the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.); provided, however, that regulations governing the qualification of bidders shall be promulgated by the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury.

    d. Any profits accruing to the county from the contract shall be used exclusively for the use, benefit and general welfare of the inmate population of the county correctional facility.

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment; except that the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

    This bill would permit the governing body of any county to enter into a contract with a private, for-profit entity to operate and maintain a commissary at the county correctional facility. The bill also permits the governing body to contract for the provision of food services with a central food service facility that is established by the Department of Corrections or Human Services to service State prisons and facilities.

    While the bill provides that the contract be made, negotiated and awarded in accordance with the "Local Public Contracts Law," (P.L.1971, c.198; C.40A:11-1 et seq.), it specifically directs that the regulations governing the qualification of bidders be established by the Director of the Divison of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury.

    The bill also specifies that any profits accruing to the county from the contract must be expended exclusively for the use, benefit and general welfare of the inmates of the county correctional facility.

Permits counties to contract with private, for-profit companies to operate commissaries at county prison.