SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1891

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports Senate Bill No. 1891 without recommendation.

      This bill would prohibit the board of freeholders of a county organized under the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), from purging the members of a county utilities authority through its power to "reorganize" an authority pursuant to section 30 of P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-30). The "municipal and county utilities authorities law," P.L.1957, c.183 (C.40:14B-1 et seq.), contains sufficient procedures for dissolving an authority or removing authority members for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office that a freeholder board should not need to resort to a vague "reorganization" power that has a great potential for political abuse.

      The bill would apply to any action to reorganize or to alter or abolish a county utilities authority organized under the "municipal and county utilities authorities law," P.L.1957, c.183 (C.40:14B-1 et seq.), adopted or approved pursuant to section 30 of P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-30), on or after March 3, 1997, so that such action would be null and void.