ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 84

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 24, 1996

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 84.

      Assembly Concurrent Resolution Bill No. 84 approves the "Cultural Campus Project - Phase I," as proposed by the New Jersey Building Authority.

      In 1993, the New Jersey Building Authority approved a project report for the renovation of the State Education Building for use by the Department of Education, also approved by the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning and by the Legislature by ACR144 of 1993. Bonds have been issued for the estimated cost of the project, $15,700,000.

       An interdepartmental executive branch task force recommended that the Education Building would be more appropriately renovated to house the Department of State, and the New Jersey Building Authority adopted a resolution approving the change of use and a project report entitled "Cultural Campus Project - Phase I," at the same estimated cost, which has also been approved by the Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning.

      This resolution provides the Legislative approval for the project change.

      The resolution also expresses the sense of the Legislature that New Jersey Building Authority projects, particularly those within the State Capitol Complex, should be financed and managed directly by the authority, with delegation to other State agencies of managerial responsibility only where the authority deems it necessary, but with full control over project management retained by the authority, and that the authority should assume the responsibility for the coordination, planning and integration of the projects for the improvement of the State Capitol Complex.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The resolution approves a renovation project change. The $15,700,000 renovation of the State Education Building for use by the Department of State instead of the Department of Education.