SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 568

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 20, 1996

      The Senate Health Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 568.

      This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to implement a State takeover of a local board of health for a specified period of time as determined by the commissioner, based upon noncompliance by the local board with an order of the commissioner to enforce State law or the provisions of the State Sanitary Code. The commissioner is authorized to proceed with the takeover after a hearing has determined that no good cause exists for the noncompliance. During the period of the State takeover, the Department of Health would directly supervise or perform the operations of the local board and may bill the local governing body for the costs incurred by the State in enforcing the law or the provisions of the State Sanitary Code for which the local board is responsible. The bill authorizes the Department of Health, in the case of a takeover of a local board of health, to bill the local governing body for the costs incurred by the State in performing the duties for which the local board is responsible.