18A:18A-46.1 Limitation on withholding of State funds from school districts for certain violations of public school contracts law.

1. a. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in this section, the Commissioner of Education shall not withhold State funds from any school district, or require any school district to remit any State funds previously paid to that district, because of any act or omission by the district which the commissioner determines to have been taken or permitted to occur in violation of the extraordinary unspecifiable services exception to the requirements for public advertisement and bidding as set forth in N.J.S.18A:18A-5, unless the commissioner determines that:(1)the act or omission was the result of any collusion between any officer or employee of the district and any contract vendor; or (2) the act or omission was prompted by an intent on the part of any officer or employee of the district to evade the public advertisement and bidding requirements of the "Public School Contracts Law," N.J.S.18A:18A-1 et seq.; or (3) a prior act or omission resulted in a withholding of State funds or a remission of State funds due to a violation of the extraordinary unspecifiable services exception to the requirements for public advertisement and bidding as set forth in N.J.S.18A:18A-5.

b. If the commissioner determines that the violation was caused by negligence and none of the provisions in paragraph (3) in subsection a. are met, the amount of State funds withheld shall not exceed 10% of the contract amount, or in the case of multiple contracts, 10% of the total amount of the contracts, or $25,000, whichever is less.

c. Any school district from which the commissioner withheld funds or has sought to collect funds prior to the effective date of this act due to a determination that the district acted or permitted an action to occur in violation of the extraordinary unspecifiable services exception to the requirements for public advertising and bidding as set forth in N.J.S.18A:18A-5 may apply to the commissioner for restoration of funds so withheld. If the commissioner determines that none of the provisions set forth in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) in subsection a. or in subsection b. applies, the commissioner shall remit to the school district the applicable funds previously withheld or forgive any amounts pending collection.

d. The limitations placed upon the commissioner pursuant to this act shall not restrict the commissioner's authority to supervise the compliance by school districts with the requirements of the "Public School Contracts Law," N.J.S.18A:18A-1 et seq., and to seek all other remedies pursuant to Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

L.1999,c.55,s.1.