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 NJAC Conference '08
Where Business Meets Government
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NEWS ALERT -- Court Security Bill Introduced in Assembly
Legislation
would create funding source for court house security
TRENTON – Legislation that would create a
pool of money for counties to offset the cost of upgrading courthouse security
gained momentum today when it was introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly
by the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.
Assemblywoman
Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, introduced A-2760.
The Senate version of the bill was introduced earlier this month by
Senator Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester.
“Assemblywoman
Pou and Senator Sweeney are two very influential members of the Legislature and
we are very proud to have their support on this,” said Celeste Carpiano,
executive director of the New Jersey Association Counties.
Both
versions of the bill would require the state Judiciary to come up with
guidelines for improving courthouse security and then fund the upgrades with
money generated by higher court filing fees and civil penalties.
Traffic
fines would be increased by $3, for example.
The penalty for a contempt-of-court citation would be raised $25. And filing fees for civil actions ranging
from small claims to divorce would be increased by $5.
“The
Judiciary has control over court security but county governments have to pay
for it,” said Celeste Carpiano. “This
bill creates a way to pay for those improvements without imposing more costly
mandates that drive up property taxes.”
According
to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which drafted the legislation with
the help of NJAC, it would generate roughly $20 million annually for court
security upgrades.
“Without
this legislation the state could order counties to make the improvements and
stick local property taxpayers with the bill,” said Carpiano. “This is a more equitable way to finance
projects that the Judiciary deems necessary.”
www.njac.org
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May 2008
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Gov's 2009 Budget Update for Counties
NJAC SAVES MILLIONS FOR COUNTIES
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LEAD PROGRAM GRADUATES SIX GOING GREEN
Find out what Counties are doing to save money and the environment
BUSINESS
Johnson Controls,
a major environmental company, joins NJAC as Business Associate Member
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NJ Redevelopment Authority Joins NJAC. Sign up here for its course on real estate development
NEWS FROM COUNTIES
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