A1794

An Act concerning the consolidation of the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

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

1. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the “Delaware River Port Authority and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Consolidation Commission.”

2. a. The commission shall consist of 14 members, of whom seven shall be appointed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and seven shall be appointed by the State of New Jersey in the manner determined by the legislatures of each state respectively.

b. The members appointed pursuant to the provisions of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be independent public administration and transportation experts, policymakers, and practitioners, but shall not have served as commissioners, officers, directors, or employees of the Delaware River Port Authority or the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

c. The members shall be appointed within 30 days of the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. The commission shall organize no later than 30 days after the appointment of the majority of its members, and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson and hold hearings at the times and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fill its charge. The members shall serve without compensation.

4. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any department, board, bureau, commission, agency, authority, or other entity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the State of New Jersey, as it may require and as may be available, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds available to it for its purpose.

5. a. The commission shall submit a report to the governors and legislatures of Pennsylvania and New Jersey no later than 12 months following the organization of the commission concerning the consolidation of the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The report shall include the commission’s findings and recommendations concerning potential issues posed by the consolidation including, but not limited to: legal matters, including review of bond covenants and labor issues; operational matters; financial savings and costs, including an assessment of market conditions and whether those conditions make consolidation a viable option; the need for coordinated planning of regional transportation projects; and any other matter the commission deems relevant. If the commission determines that consolidation is a viable option, the commission shall submit with its report a legislative proposal to consolidate the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

b. The commission shall dissolve upon the issuance of the report and legislative proposal required pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

6. The New Jersey members of the commission shall be appointed as follows: one by the Governor; two by the Senate President; two by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and one by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly.

7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall take effect upon enactment of substantially identical legislation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided that if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has already enacted such legislation, sections 1 through 5 of this act shall take effect immediately. Section 6 of this act shall take effect upon the effective date of sections 1 through 5 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill creates the “Delaware River Port Authority and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Consolidation Commission.”

The commission is to submit a report to the governors and legislatures of New Jersey and Pennsylvania within one year concerning the consolidation of the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The report is to include the commission’s findings and recommendations concerning potential issues posed by the consolidation including: (1) legal matters, including review of bond covenants and labor issues; (2) operational matters; (3) financial savings and costs, including an assessment of market conditions and whether those conditions make consolidation a viable option; (4) the need for coordinated planning of regional transportation projects; and (5) and any other matter the commission deems relevant. If the commission determines that consolidation is a viable option, the commission is to submit with its report a legislative proposal to consolidate the Delaware River Port Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The commission is to consist of 14 members, of whom seven are to be appointed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and seven are to be appointed by the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey members of the commission are to be appointed as follows: one by the Governor; two by the Senate President; two by the Speaker of the General Assembly; one by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and one by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. The Pennsylvania legislature will determine how the Pennsylvania members are to be appointed. All members are to be independent public administration and transportation experts, policymakers, and practitioners, but may not have served as commissioners, officers, directors, or employees of the Delaware River Port Authority or the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.