[Passed Both Houses]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2467

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 7, 1996

By Assemblymen ROBERTS, GIBSON, Asselta,

Augustine and Bagger

An Act concerning municipal contracts with private firms for the collection of municipal court fines, costs, surcharges and penalties and amending P.L.1983, c.208.

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

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1983, c.208 (C.40:48-5a) is amended to read as follows:

    1. The governing body of any municipality may enter into contract with a private agency or firm for the purpose of collecting delinquent fines, costs, surcharges and other penalties that are owed to or required to be collected by the municipality as a result of any municipal court matter, including, but not limited to parking violation fines [owed to the municipality] and motor vehicle violation fines. Any such contract shall be made and awarded pursuant to the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c. 198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.).

(cf: P.L.1983, c.208, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would expand the types of municipal penalties for which a municipality could contract with a private firm to perform collection services. Under current law, a municipality can contract with a private firm only for the collection of delinquent parking violation fines. This bill would permit the collection contract to include the collection of all fines, costs, surcharges and other penalties owed to or required to be collected by the municipality as a result of any municipal court matter.

Permits municipal contract with private firms for collection of all municipal court fines, costs, surcharges and penalties owed to or collected by the municipality.