ASSEMBLY, No. 2532

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 5, 1996

By Assemblyman LANCE

An Act concerning the sale of real property by the State and amending P.L.1962, c.220 and R.S.52:20-1.

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

    1. Section 3 of P.L.1962, c.220 (C.52:31-1.3) is amended to read as follows:

    3. (a) The provisions of this act shall apply to real property or interests therein that have a value of [$100,000.00] $5,000,000.00 or less and to easements that have a value of $10,000.00 or less.

    (b) The provisions of this act shall be deemed to be additional and supplemental to any existing authority to sell property of the State and shall not be deemed to be in derogation of such existing authority.

(cf: P.L.1962, c.220, s.3)

    2. R.S.52:20-1 is amended to read as follows:

    52:20-1. The State House Commission shall consist of the Governor, who shall be the presiding officer, the State Treasurer, and the [Comptroller of the Treasury] Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting or their designees, or the persons upon whom shall devolve by law the powers, duties and emoluments of said offices respectively, for the time being, and 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President thereof and 2 members of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker thereof, no more than one of either group of 2 being of the same political party. The members of the commission shall serve without pay in connection with all such duties as are prescribed in this chapter. The appointed members of the commission shall serve as members thereof for terms co-extensive with their respective terms as members of the Houses of the Legislature from which they were appointed.

(cf: P.L.1963, c.180, s.1)

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    Under existing law, the head or principal executive of any State department, with the written approval of the Governor, is authorized to sell and convey the State's interest in any real property and the improvements thereon held by the department, provided that: (1) a finding is made that the department does not require such property for any public interest and that the sale is in the best interests of the State, and (2) that the value of the property is less than $100,000.00. The sale of the property is upon such terms and conditions as the State House Commission determines to be in the best interests of the State and is by public auction to the highest bidder unless the commission shall otherwise direct. This bill would increase the maximum value of the property subject to the law from $100,000.00 to $5,000,000.00.

    This bill also amends existing law regarding the membership of the commission. The current statute provides that the Comptroller of the Treasury shall be a member of the commission. The duties of the Comptroller are now performed by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The bill amends the law to reflect this fact and to authorize the Executive Branch members of the commission (the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting) to name designees to serve on the commission in their stead.

Increases from $100,000 to $5,000,000 value of surplus real property a State department may sell without specific legislative authorization; authorizes Executive Branch members of State House Commission to name designees.