SENATE, No. 2159
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED JUNE 5, 1997
By Senator LaROSSA
An Act concerning the sale of real property by the State and amending P.L.1962, c.220 and R.S.52:20-1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1962, c.220 (C.52:31-1.3) is amended to read as follows:
3. (a) The provisions of this act shall apply to real property or interests therein that have a value of [$100,000.00] $3,000,000 or less and to easements that have a value of $10,000.00 or less. Commencing March 1, 1998 and each year thereafter, the State Treasurer shall adjust the amount of the maximum value of real property or interests hereinbefore set forth in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the composite average for the New York City and the Philadelphia areas, as that average is determined by the Treasurer, in the Housing component of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers as reported by the United States Department of Labor. The State Treasurer shall, no later than June 1 of each year, notify the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the State House Commission of the adjustment. The adjustment shall become effective on July 1 of each year.
(b) The provisions of this act shall be deemed to be additional and supplemental to any existing authority to sell property of the State and shall not be deemed to be in derogation of such existing authority. Nothing in this act, P.L.1962, c.220 (C.52:31-1.1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall be construed to affect, amend, alter or repeal any provision of any other law relating to the disposition of public lands for recreation and conservation, farmland preservation, or any other public purpose.
(cf: P.L.1962, c.220, s.3)
2. R.S.52:20-1 is amended to read as follows:
52:20-1. The State House Commission shall consist of the Governor, who shall be the presiding officer, the State Treasurer, and the [Comptroller of the Treasury] Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting or their designees, or the persons upon whom shall devolve by law the powers, duties and emoluments of said offices respectively, for the time being, and 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President thereof and 2 members of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker thereof, no more than one of either group of 2 being of the same political party. The members of the commission shall serve without pay in connection with all such duties as are prescribed in this chapter. The appointed members of the commission shall serve as members thereof for terms co-extensive with their respective terms as members of the Houses of the Legislature from which they were appointed.
(cf: P.L.1963, c.180, s.1)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill increases the maximum value of State land that may be sold without specific legislative authorization.
Under existing law, the head or principal executive of any State department, with the written approval of the Governor, is authorized to sell and convey the State's interest in any real property (and the improvements thereon) held by the department, provided that: (1) the department does not need the property for the public interest and the sale is in the best interest of the State, and (2) that the value of the property is $100,000 or less. The sale of the property is based on the terms and conditions determined by the State House Commission and the sale is by public auction to the highest bidder unless the commission otherwise directs.
This bill increases from $100,000 to $3,000,000 the maximum value of property the sale of which would not be subject to legislative authorization and provides for the annual adjustment of this maximum value for inflation. In addition, the bill clarifies that this change does not affect, alter, amend or repeal provisions in other statutes concerning the disposition of public lands for recreation and conservation, farmland preservation, or any other public purpose.
Under current law, the Comptroller of the Treasury is a member of the State House Commission. The duties of the Comptroller are performed by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The bill amends current law to reflect this and also authorizes the Executive Branch members of the commission (the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting) to name designees to serve.
Increases from $100,000 to $3,000,000 value of surplus real property State department may sell without specific legislative authorization; authorizes Executive Branch members of State House Commission to name designees.