Bill > S161

Introduced Session

Atlantic City is a "municipality in need of stabilization and recovery" pursuant to the "Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act," P.L.2016, c.4 (C.52:27BBBB-1 et al.). Under this law, Atlantic City's municipal government is under the supervision of the Local Finance Board and the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The Atlantic City school district receives "commercial valuation stabilization aid" pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.143 (C.18A:7F-65). Because of this, the Commissioner of Education has appointed a State monitor to provide direct oversight of the Atlantic City board of education's business operations and personnel matters. While State supervision over Atlantic City's municipal and school operations is appropriate under each of these bodies of law, the current oversight structure lacks coordination of these State functions. This bill would require a school district that has received "commercial valuation stabilization aid" and is located within a "municipality in need of stabilization and recovery" to report directly to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services, or the director's designee, on at least a weekly basis. If the Commissioner of Education has appointed a State monitor for the school district, the bill would require the State monitor to report directly to the director at least weekly. In this instance, in addition to the authorities granted to the director by the Local Finance Board, the bill authorizes the director to oversee the fiscal management and expenditures of school district funds and provides the director the power to approve school district expenditures, including those of a school district under the direct oversight of a State monitor. When acting pursuant to this bill, the director would have the powers and authorities of a State monitor, and is authorized to take action necessary and appropriate to ensure the efficiency of school district expenditures.

AI Summary

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Vince Polistina (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document