SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 1802

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 10, 1997

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably a committee substitute for Senate Bill No. 1802.

      This bill would permit counties to elect to change certain dates set in the "State Judicial Unification Act," P.L.1993, c.275 on which the counties are required to pay monies to the State. The amounts to be paid are percentages of the base year established in P.L.1993, c.275. Current law would require a $120 million payment from the counties in 1997. Sixty million of this amount is due on May 15, 1997 and $60 million is due on October 1, 1997. This bill would permit the counties to pay the second $60 million payment on May 15, 1998 rather than on October 1, 1997.