SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 40

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Joint Resolution No. 40.

      This joint resolution would establish the "Local Public Contracts Law Study Commission."

      The commission's purpose would be to study ways in which structural changes could be made to the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.) to improve vendor participation in the local contracting process and improve local government flexibility to evaluate proposals made by vendors, and to encourage creative service alternatives that would result in increased savings to local taxpayers.

      The commission would consist of 13 members: two members of the Senate who would not be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Senate President; two members of the General Assembly who would not be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; the Commissioner of Community Affairs; two elected local government officials, one each to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly; the President of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities or a designated representative; the President of the New Jersey Association of Counties or a designated representative; two citizens and residents of this State with expert knowledge of local government contracting procedures, practices, and requirements, one to be appointed by the Senate President and one by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and two citizens and residents of this State, one who is a member of a union representing the construction trades, and one who is a member of a union representing State public employees, to be appointed by the Governor.

      The commission would organize within 30 days after the appointment of its members and would report its findings to the Governor and the Legislature, with any bills it recommends for adoption by the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the date on which it organized. The joint resolution requires the commission, in making its recommendations, to be mindful to include safeguards against favoritism and corruption, which are necessary to honesty, efficiency, and cost-efficiency in local procurement.

      The committee amended the resolution to change the proposed composition of the commission by removing a member who would be a local government official and replacing that member with one who would be a member of a union representing State public employees.