ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 25

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman PASCRELL

An Assembly Resolution memorializing the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs to promote participation in cooperative purchasing systems.

Whereas, There are approximately 2000 public contracting units in the State; and

Whereas, Cooperative purchasing systems and interlocal agreements have been demonstrated to save taxpayers' money; and

Whereas, Only about 40% of local public contracting units participate in cooperative purchasing systems; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs is urged to increase education and publicity efforts to facilitate and promote participation by local public contracting units in cooperative purchasing systems.

    2. The Assembly Local Government Committee shall exercise oversight over the efforts of the Division of Local Government Services to accomplish the goals stated in section 1 of this resolution.

    3. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

    4. This Assembly resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This resolution is intended to express the will of the General Assembly that the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs increase its education and publicity efforts in order to both facilitate and promote participation by local public contracting units in cooperative purchasing systems. The members of the General Assembly believe that increasing participation of municipalities, counties, school districts and other local public contracting units in cooperative purchasing systems can significantly lower costs associated with the purchase of goods and services. The lowering of purchase costs will directly impact local taxpayers by reducing amounts required to be raised by taxation. The resolution also requires the Assembly Local Government Committee to exercise oversight with regard to the efforts of the division to promote and facilitate participation by local public contracting units in cooperative purchasing systems. The sponsor of the resolution believes that sufficient laws are in place to enable cooperative purchasing systems but that education of local officials is necessary in ensure that such laws are fully utilized.

Memorializes DCA to increase education and publicity efforts concerning cooperative purchasing systems.