SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 513

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate, No. 513 with committee amendments.

      This bill, as amended, would eliminate the county office of register of deeds and mortgages in a county of the second class with a population density greater than 4,500 persons per square mile and a population between 490,000 and 505,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census. Union County is the only county that meets these criteria.

      As amended, the bill provides that the office of register of deeds and mortgages would be consolidated with the office of county clerk upon the expiration of the term of office of the current register of deeds and mortgages or the occurrence of a vacancy prior to the expiration of that term of office, whichever occurs first. The bill also provides that upon consolidation of the office of register of deeds and mortgages with the county clerk, the office of register of deeds and mortgages would be abolished and the powers, functions, and duties of that office will be given to the county clerk.