This bill amends the Municipal Consolidation Act in New Jersey to improve the flexibility and clarity of municipal consolidation processes. It allows governing bodies from two or more municipalities within the same county to apply for a consolidation plan or establish a Municipal Consolidation Study Commission without the requirement of contiguity. A new provision enables a representative committee of registered voters to petition for a study commission, requiring signatures from at least 10% of voters in each municipality based on the last general election. The bill also outlines the process for creating a study commission, including qualifications for commissioners, study timeframes, public hearings, and mandates for transparency, such as making the final report publicly available and publishing an official abstract alongside election notices if consolidation is recommended.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments to streamline the consolidation process, including the requirement for municipalities to post official abstracts and notices on their websites within 30 days of filing a final report. It limits active consolidation studies in a single municipality to one at a time and includes a non-voting member from the Department of Education to evaluate the impact on educational systems. The bill emphasizes the preservation of seniority and pension rights for law enforcement and firefighters, provides for terminal leave payments for employees terminated due to consolidation, and requires voter approval for proposed consolidations, particularly involving sparsely populated municipalities. Overall, these changes aim to facilitate a smoother transition during municipal consolidations while ensuring the rights and interests of employees and residents are protected.

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