SENATE, No. 620

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 1996

By Senator SCHLUTER

An Act establishing a commission to study library consolidation and making an appropriation.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a. One of the critical concerns in the area of public administration is determining the most effective way to achieve economies and efficiencies in the organization and management of governmental agencies while maintaining the level of public services necessary for the well being of the citizens of the State; and

    b. There are many possible approaches to the this issue, including the examination of those functions which appear to be similar and yet are under different agencies and governmental units, a fact which makes a reorganization of the services difficult; and

    c. One such service which should be reviewed are the various libraries which are operated by counties, municipalities and local boards of education; and

    d. Given the complexity of this issue, it would be in the public interest to establish a commission to study the possibility of permitting localities to consolidate library services.

    2. There is created a commission to be known as the "Library Consolidation Study Commission."

    3. The commission shall consist of 15 members to be appointed as follows: 11 public members to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, which shall include educational experts, library professionals and members of the general public; two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President thereof; and, two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker thereof. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of

their duties as members of the commission within the limits of funds appropriated to the commission.

    4. The commission shall organize within 15 days after the appointment and qualification in office of its members and shall elect a chair from among its members and select a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

    5. It shall be the duty of the commission to conduct a study of the local library system in New Jersey, in order to determine whether it would be prudent to permit localities to consolidate municipal and Board of Education libraries and to review and analyze the educational, fiscal, legal and jurisdictional issues which would be involved in such a consolidation.

    6. The commission shall be entitled to the assistance and services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency which it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes and to employ such stenographic and clerical assistants and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as necessary to perform its duties and as may be within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

    7. The commission may meet and hold hearings at such place or places as it shall designate and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of the effective date of this act, and may accompany the same with any legislative bills which it may desire to recommend for adoption by the Legislature.

    8. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Legislature $30,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act.

    9. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill establishes a Library Consolidation Study Commission, which shall conduct a study of the feasibility of permitting local and school district libraries to be combined. The commission is to consist of two members of the Senate, two members of the General Assembly, and 11 public members who shall include library professionals and educational experts as well as members of the general public. The commission is to report to the Governor and the Legislature in one year. The bill appropriates $30,000 for the work of the commission.

Establishes a Library Consolidation Study Commission; appropriates $30,000.