Bill Text: NJ SCR91 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Task Force To Study Streamlining Shared Services."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-17 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [SCR91 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SCR91-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DIANE B. ALLEN
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Task Force To Study Streamlining Shared Services."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution establishing a task force to review Civil Service Commission regulations, rules and policies regarding shared services.
Whereas, Local government entities can experience substantial savings by sharing services and pooling existing resources; and
Whereas, Local government entities in Somerset County saved $13.7 million in 2005 by sharing services on a wide range of local needs; and
Whereas, Many local government officials have testified to the effectiveness of cost-sharing programs and the need to minimize duplication of services by matching one government entity's needs with another government entity's resources; and
Whereas, State Civil Service Commission regulations, rules and policies often raise a bureaucratic hurdle making it more difficult for these local government entities to share services; and
Whereas, There are over 1,300 governmental jurisdictions in the State, each with its own authority to impose property taxes and increase the property tax burden; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. There is established a task force to be known as the "Task Force To Study Streamlining Shared Services" (hereinafter, the "task force") to consist of 12 members as follows:
President, New Jersey League of Municipalities or the president's designee;
President, New Jersey Conference of Mayors or the president's designee;
President, New Jersey Association of Counties or the president's designee;
President, New Jersey State Association of Fire Districts, or the president's designee;
four members of the Legislature. The Speaker of the General Assembly shall appoint two members of the General Assembly, one member from each of the two political parties whose candidates for Governor received the largest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election. The President of the Senate shall appoint two members of the Senate, one member from each of the two political parties whose candidates for Governor received the largest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election; and
four members of the public, who shall not hold elective office, and who shall have expertise and knowledge in local government services. The Speaker of the General Assembly shall appoint two members of the public, one member from each of the two political parties whose candidates for Governor received the largest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election. The President of the Senate shall appoint two members of the public, one member from each of the two political parties whose candidates for Governor received the largest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election.
2. The members of the task force shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The members shall serve without compensation but shall be eligible for reimbursement of their necessary expenses within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.
3. The task force shall meet as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The task force may meet and hold hearings at any place or places it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature.
4. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, agency, or other entity, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds made available to it for its purposes.
5. It shall be the duty of the task force to review the regulations, rules and policies of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and to identify any regulation, rule or policy that impedes the sharing of services between or among county, municipal, or other taxing authorities or impedes the merger of such taxing authorities. The task force shall make recommendations specifying any regulation, rule or policy of the Civil Service Commission that needs to be adopted, amended or withdrawn so as to create incentives for the sharing of services between or the consolidation of county, municipal or other taxing authorities.
6. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leader of the Senate upon the completion of its work, but not later than six months after the task force organizes.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution establishes the "Task Force To Study Streamlining Shared Services." Within six months after the task force organizes, the task force is to submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the Senate detailing the Civil Service Commission regulations, rules or policies that impede shared services. The report will also recommend regulations, rules or policies that should be adopted, amended or withdrawn so as to create incentives for the sharing of services between or the consolidation of county, municipal, or other taxing authorities.
The task force is to be composed of 12 members as follows: the President of the New Jersey League of Municipalities; the President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors; the President of the New Jersey Association of Counties; the President of the New Jersey State Association of Fire Districts; four members of the Legislature and four members of the public, who shall not hold elective office, and who have expertise and knowledge of local government services. The Speaker of the General Assembly would appoint two of the public members and two members from the General Assembly, and the President of the Senate would appoint two public members and two Senators.
