The bill seeks to improve the municipal consolidation process in New Jersey by introducing greater flexibility and clarity. It amends existing laws to allow non-contiguous municipalities within the same county to consolidate, provided they are within a reasonable distance. The bill establishes a structured process for creating a Municipal Consolidation Study Commission, detailing requirements for petitions, public hearings, and the publication of findings. Key insertions include mandates for public inspection of final reports, the establishment of a task force to facilitate consolidation, and the necessity for a detailed consolidation plan that addresses various implementation issues. Additionally, it requires voter approval for any proposed consolidation and stipulates that a referendum must be held before any further actions can be taken regarding the same municipalities for at least five years.

Moreover, the bill emphasizes the protection of employees' rights during the consolidation process, ensuring that seniority, tenure, and pension rights of law enforcement officers and firefighters are preserved. It introduces provisions for terminal leave payments for employees terminated for economic reasons and outlines the integration of labor agreements. The bill also revises the definition of a "sparsely populated municipality" to include those with populations under 1,000 and introduces new voter approval requirements for municipalities with populations under 100. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the consolidation process while safeguarding the interests of affected employees and ensuring that local governance remains responsive to community needs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:65-25, 40A:65-26, 40A:65-27, 40A:65-28, 40A:65-29, 40:43-66.78, 40:43-66.79, 40:43-66.80, 40:43-66.81, 40:43-66.82