newjerseynewsroom.com

Second new bill would mandate prompt repair of leased vehicles

Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset) Monday announced that in an effort to save taxpayer dollars, he is introduced a two-bill package that attempts to streamline school administration costs by creating countywide school districts.

One bill (A-2622) would ask voters in November 2011 whether to establish a county administrative school district to centralize public school governance and operations at the county level.

The second bill (A-2623) would provide a governance structure for counties in which voters approve establishing a county administrative school district.

Under the legislation, if voters approved a county administrative school district, a county school board would be established and a chief school administrator would be appointed by the governor, and they would be responsible for supervising county district operations.

A board of school estimate would develop a county administrative school district budget and would determine the amount of school taxes necessary for the operation of the district.

The law would allow local boards of education to remain in place, but these boards would only be advisory.

The county board appointed by either the county executive or freeholder director, with advice and consent from the freeholder board.

Local school district administrative and supervisory personnel positions would be abolished.

The law also would provide that students remain in the school in which they were enrolled before the establishment of the county administrative school district.

"New Jersey taxpayers can no longer afford to pay hefty salaries for hundreds of superintendents and assistant superintendents," Chivukula said. "We need a new and sensible approach to save taxpayers' money, and these bills could go a long way toward streamlining expenses and cutting costs without hurting education."

Chivukula said New Jersey's system of 600 school districts each governed by their superintendents is a relic that taxpayers can no longer afford.

"Still, these bills don't force a change upon anyone,'' he said. "They simply give voters a choice to try something different to save money."

Chivukula noted the Office of the State Auditor in 2006 estimated it costs taxpayers about $553 million statewide for the salary and benefits for superintendents, assistant superintendents, school business administrators and information technology coordinators.

"We have potential to save a lot of money for taxpayers by streamlining this system," he said. "Nothing in this bill would hurt public education.As a matter of fact, it may help by freeing up more money for the classroom. The only thing this bill would do is bring some reason to a complicated and outdated system."

In another action, Assemblymen Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) Monday announced they've introduced legislation to make it clear that New Jersey residents who drive leased vehicles can get safety-related vehicle recall concerns dealt with quickly.

The bill (A-2615) would require vehicle lessors to respond to safety-related recalls on the vehicles they lease within 60 days.

The measure specifies that if the necessary repairs are not completed within that time period, the lessor would either have to replace the vehicle with a similar one or allow the lessee to terminate the lease with no penalty or cost.

Violations of the bill would be violations of the Consumer Protection Leasing Act, and thereby considered unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act.

An unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense.

In addition, a violation can result in cease and desist orders issued by the state attorney general, the assessment of punitive damages and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured.

"We've seen a lot of confusion lately about how leased vehicles are to be handled in some of these highly publicized vehicle recalls," Caputo said. "I want to make it clear that New Jerseyans shouldn't have to read the fine print to get their leased vehicle quickly repaired."

"This is a perfectly reasonable law that makes clear that safety is the priority, no matter whether a vehicle is leased or purchased," Moriarty said. "This law would shield New Jerseyans who lease vehicles from any confusion and assure them prompt repairs."

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM