2014 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 18A - EDUCATION
Section 18A:64-85 - State, county college may enter into certain contracts with a private entity.

18A:64-85 State, county college may enter into certain contracts with a private entity.

43. a. (1) A State college or county college may enter into a contract with a private entity, subject to subsection f. of this section, to be referred to as a public-private partnership agreement, that permits the private entity to assume full financial and administrative responsibility for the on-campus construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, improvement, extension, management, or operation of a building, structure, or facility of, or for the benefit of, the institution, provided that the project is financed in whole by the private entity and that the State or institution of higher education, as applicable, retains full ownership of the land upon which the project is completed.

(2)A public-private partnership agreement may include an agreement under which a State or county college leases to a private entity the operation of a dormitory or other revenue-producing facility to which the college holds title, in exchange for up-front or structured financing by the private entity for the construction of classrooms, laboratories, or other academic buildings. Under the lease agreement, the college shall continue to hold title to the facility, and the private entity shall be responsible for the management, operation, and maintenance of the facility. The private entity shall receive some or all, as per the agreement, of the revenue generated by the facility and shall operate the facility in accordance with college standards. A lease agreement shall not affect the status or employment rights of college employees who are assigned to, or provide services to, the leased facility. At the end of the lease term, subsequent revenue generated by the facility, along with management, operation, and maintenance responsibility, shall revert to the college.

b. (1) A private entity that assumes financial and administrative responsibility for a project pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall not be subject to the procurement and contracting requirements of all statutes applicable to the institution of higher education at which the project is completed, including, but not limited to, the "State College Contracts Law," P.L.1986, c.43 (C.18A:64-52 et seq.), and the "County College Contracts Law," P.L.1982, c.189 (C.18A:64A-25.1 et seq.). For the purposes of facilitating the financing of a project pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a public entity may become the owner or lessee of the project or the lessee of the land, or both, may become the lessee of a dormitory or other revenue-producing facility to which the college holds title, may issue indebtedness in accordance with the public entity's enabling legislation and, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, shall be empowered to enter into contracts with a private entity and its affiliates without being subject to the procurement and contracting requirements of any statute applicable to the public entity provided that the private entity has been selected by the institution of higher education pursuant to a solicitation of proposals or qualifications. For the purposes of this section, a public entity shall include the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and any project undertaken pursuant to subsection a. of this section of which the authority becomes the owner or lessee, or which is situated on land of which the authority becomes the lessee, shall be deemed a "project" under the "New Jersey Economic Development Authority Act," P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.).

(2)As the carrying out of any project described pursuant to this section constitutes the performance of an essential public function, all projects predominantly used in furtherance of the educational purposes of the institution undertaken pursuant to this section, provided it is owned by or leased to a public entity, non-profit business entity, foreign or domestic, or a business entity wholly owned by such non-profit business entity, shall at all times be exempt from property taxation and special assessments of the State, or any municipality, or other political subdivision of the State and, notwithstanding the provisions of section 15 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-15), section 2 of P.L.1977, c.272 (C.54:4-2.2b), or any other section of law to the contrary, shall not be required to make payments in lieu of taxes. The land upon which the project is located shall also at all times be exempt from property taxation. Further, the project and land upon which the project is located shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1984, c.176 (C.54:4-1.10) regarding the tax liability of private parties conducting for profit activities on tax exempt land, or section 1 of P.L.1949, c.177 (C.54:4-2.3) regarding the taxation of leasehold interests in exempt property that are held by nonexempt parties.

c.Each worker employed in the construction, rehabilitation, or building maintenance services of facilities by a private entity that has entered into a public-private partnership agreement with a State or county college pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be paid not less than the prevailing wage rate for the worker's craft or trade as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development pursuant to P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.25 et seq.) and P.L.2005, c.379 (C.34:11-56.58 et seq.).

d. (1) All construction projects under a public-private partnership agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall contain a project labor agreement. The project labor agreement shall be subject to the provisions of P.L.2002, c.44 (C.52:38-1 et seq.), and shall be in a manner that to the greatest extent possible enhances employment opportunities for individuals residing in the county of the project's location. Further, the general contractor, construction manager, design-build team, or subcontractor for a construction project proposed in accordance with this paragraph shall be registered pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1999, c.238 (C.34:11-56.48 et seq.), and shall be classified by the Division of Property Management and Construction to perform work on a public-private partnership higher education project. All construction projects proposed in accordance with this paragraph shall be submitted to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for its review and approval and, when practicable, are encouraged to adhere to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System as adopted by the United States Green Building Council.

(2)Where no public fund has been established for the financing of a public improvement, the chief financial officer of the public owner shall require the private entity for whom the public improvement is being made to post, or cause to be posted, a bond guaranteeing prompt payment of moneys due to the contractor, his or her subcontractors and to all persons furnishing labor or materials to the contractor or his or her subcontractors in the prosecution of the work on the public improvement.

e.A general contractor, construction manager, design-build team, or subcontractor shall be registered pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1999, c.238 (C.34:11-56.48 et seq.), and shall be classified by the Division of Property Management and Construction to perform work on a public-private partnership higher education project.

f. (1) On or before August 1, 2015, all projects proposed in accordance with this section shall be submitted to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the authority's review and approval; except that in the case of projects proposed in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, all projects shall be submitted on or before August 1, 2016. The projects are encouraged, when practicable, to adhere to the green building manual prepared by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c.132 (C.52:27D-130.6). Any application that is deemed to be incomplete on August 2, 2015, or on August 2, 2016 in the case of an application submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, shall not be eligible for consideration.

(2) (a) In order for an application to be complete and considered by the authority, the application shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a public-private partnership agreement between the State or county college and the private developer; (ii) a full description of the project, including a description of any agreement for the lease of a revenue-producing facility related to the project; (iii) the estimated costs and financial documentation for the project; (iv) a timetable for completion of the project extending no more than five years after consideration and approval; and (v) any other requirements that the authority deems appropriate or necessary.

(b)As part of the estimated costs and financial documentation for the project, the application shall contain a long-range maintenance plan and shall specify the expenditures that qualify as an appropriate investment in maintenance. The long-range maintenance plan shall be approved by the authority pursuant to regulations promulgated by the authority that reflect national building maintenance standards and other appropriate building maintenance benchmarks. All contracts to implement a long-range maintenance plan pursuant to this paragraph shall contain a project labor agreement. The project labor agreement shall be subject to the provisions of P.L.2002, c.44 (C.52:38-1 et seq.), and shall be in a manner that to the greatest extent possible enhances employment opportunities for individuals residing in the county of the project's location.

(3)The authority shall review all completed applications, and request additional information as is needed to make a complete assessment of the project. No project shall be undertaken until final approval has been granted by the authority; provided, however, that the authority shall retain the right to revoke approval if it determines that the project has deviated from the plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(4)The authority may promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement this subsection, including provisions for fees to cover administrative costs.

Where no public fund has been established for the financing of a public improvement, the chief financial officer of the public owner shall require the private entity for whom the public improvement is being made to post, or cause to be posted, a bond guaranteeing prompt payment of moneys due to the contractor, his or her subcontractors and to all persons furnishing labor or materials to the contractor or his or her subcontractors in the prosecution of the work on the public improvement.

g.The provisions of P.L.2009, c.136 (C.52:18-42 et al.) shall not apply to any project carried out pursuant to this section.

L.2009, c.90, s.43; amended 2010, c.10, s.1; 2012, c.10; 2012, c.42, s.1; 2013, c.161, s.26.