ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2815

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2815 with committee amendments.

      This amended bill would prohibit the amount appropriated from the revenues and other funds of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority to be used to purchase, directly or indirectly, office equipment by or for any recipient of those funds. The Department of Transportation has used monies from the Transportation Trust Fund for office equipment, such as computers. It is the sponsor's view that monies from the Transportation Trust Fund should be expended for construction of transportation projects and not office equipment.

      As amended, the act would take effect immediately and apply to expenditures in the fiscal year beginning July 1 next following enactment and thereafter.

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that Trust Fund monies may not be used for the direct or indirect purchase of office equipment. The amendments specify that the bill's provisions would apply to any recipient of Trust Fund monies to ensure that monies appropriated to counties and municipalities for local aid will not be used to purchase office equipment. The committee amendments also provide that the act would take effect in the fiscal year beginning July 1 next following enactment.