Bill Text: NJ S3614 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires stipends for certain members of boards, commissions, committees, and other public entities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-13 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S3614 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S3614-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3614

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED APRIL 19, 2021

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires stipends for certain members of boards, commissions, committees, and other public entities.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2021, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning payment of stipends to certain public entities and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a member of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar multi-member entity created by law ¹[and allocated within a principal department of the Executive Branch of the State government or within any other State entity] before or after the effective date of this act¹ shall be paid a stipend for each month in which a meeting held by the board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity is attended by the member.  This stipend shall not be paid to a member of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity for whom the State already provides by law or otherwise a salary, stipend, or remuneration for services rendered as a member that is in excess of the amount set by the head of each State department or ¹[the head of any]¹ other State entity¹, or the individual designated to lead a multi-member entity that is allocated to but independent of a department or other State entity or that is a bi-state agency,¹ in accordance with subsection b. of this section. A stipend shall be paid to a member who receives a stipend or remuneration that is less than the amount set in subsection b. of this section in such additional amount as will provide together with the stipend paid the amount of the stipend set.

     b.    The stipend shall be in an amount that is at least $300 but not more than to $1,500 as set by the head of each department or other State entity¹, or the individual designated to lead a multi-member entity that is allocated to but independent of a department or other State entity or that is a bi-state agency¹. The head of each department or ¹[the head of any]¹ other State entity, as appropriate within which a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity is allocated shall set, for each calendar year, the specific amount of the stipend that will be paid to the members of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity. ¹If a multi-member entity is allocated to but independent of a department or other State entity or is a bi-state agency, the individual designated to lead the multi-member entity shall set, for each calendar year, the specific amount of the stipend that will be paid to members.¹ The same amount of stipend shall be paid to all members of the same ¹[of a]¹ board, commission, committee, task force, or similar ¹multi-member¹ entity. The head of the department ¹or other State entity, or the individual designated to lead a multi-member entity that is allocated to but independent of a department or other State entity or that is a bi-state agency,¹ shall take into consideration when setting the amount of the stipend to be paid to the members of a board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity, the number of meetings held per month and the scope of responsibilities of the members.

     c.     The total amount to be paid annually for stipends shall be paid primarily from an appropriation of the fees collected by the board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity.  If there are no fees collected, or the fees are insufficient, or the fees are otherwise dedicated by law for another purpose, there shall be an appropriation from the State General Fund for the payment of the stipends.

     d.    The head of each department or ¹[the head of any]¹ other State entity¹, or the individual designated to lead a multi-member entity that is allocated to but independent of a department or other State entity or that is a bi-state agency,¹ shall prepare an annual report to be transmitted to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing the amount of the stipend to be disbursed to the members  of each specific board, commission, committee, task force, or similar entity.

     ¹e.   This section shall also include all State colleges and universities.¹

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately but remain inoperative for 60 days following enactment.