ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1796

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: APRIL 22, 1996

      The Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1796.

      Assembly Bill No. 1796 would establish a five-member Solid Waste Collection Reform Study Commission, in but not of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to reassess the recent statutory termination of public utility rate regulation of the solid waste collection industry.

      The Study Commission would consist of the Commissioner of DEP or his designee, ex officio; two citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom must be employed by and represent county government and one of whom must be employed in and represent the solid waste collection industry; and two members of the Legislature, one from each House.

      The members of the Study Commission must be appointed within 30 days of the bill's effective date. The Governor would designate one of the members as chairperson of the Study Commission. Members of the Study Commission would serve without compensation but could be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

      The Study Commission would be required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within 6 months of the bill's effective date. This report would contain recommendations as to: (1) the extent the State should retain supervision over the solid waste collection industry; and (2) the authority the State should exercise with respect to the regulation of rates or charges for solid waste collection services following the expiration of the solid waste collection rate bands on October 14, 1996.

      In developing its recommendations, the Study Commission would review the preliminary and final reports prepared by the DEP pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1991, c.381 (C.48:13A-7.14) and any other reports or data as it deems necessary.

      Pending the completion of the Study Commission's report, this bill would also: (1) repeal the statutory termination of public utility rate regulation of solid waste collection services provided in section 15 of P.L.1991, c.381 (C.48:13A-7.15); and (2) extend the expiration date for the solid waste collection rate bands governing the rates or charges that may be imposed by solid waste collectors for solid waste collection services from April 14, 1996 to October 14, 1996.