GREENSTEIN / VAINIERI HUTTLE / JOHNSON BILL TO MAKE COUNTY POLITICAL PARTIES MORE OPEN ADVANCES

GREENSTEIN / VAINIERI HUTTLE / JOHNSON BILL TO MAKE COUNTY POLITICAL PARTIES  MORE OPEN ADVANCES

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assembly members Linda R. Greenstein, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson to make county political parties more transparent was passed today by the Assembly Budget Committee.

The bill (A-1904) would require county political party committees to adopt and distribute a constitution and bylaws that would ensure the representative rights of county committee members in the governance of the county party.

"This is a crucial step toward more accountability and transparency at every government level," said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). "It's long overdue and would be a welcome addition to making government more open and accountable to the people."

"More transparency and openness is always a good thing," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "This bill will put even more emphasis on that goal and make county politics more accessible and accountable to the people."

"We're simply doing what should have done long ago - shining more light upon what can often by a key government process seldom seen by the public," said Johnson (D-Bergen). "This is a positive step in the right direction for all New Jerseyans."

The bill is also sponsored by Assemblywomen Amy Handlin (R-Middlesex-Monmouth) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Bergen). It would require:

· A copy of the constitution and bylaws will be provided to the county board of elections of county and on the county committee's Web site (if applicable);
· Municipal clerks to certify to the county clerk an official list of county party committee members within 20 days of the first county committee meeting after a primary election.
·  The county committee chair to have a continuing duty to report changes in the committee membership, with appropriate documentation, to the county clerk.
· The official list of the county committee members maintained by the county clerk to be a government record that is accessible to the public.
· That only  the county committee members listed seven days before a  vote on a vacancy are entitled to vote on filling that vacancy.
· That every person appointed to the county committee file with the county clerk a certificate of acceptance.
· All contested votes be held by secret ballot in a location or manner to prevent tampering.
 

The bill was released by the Assembly Budget Committee 8 to 2 with two abstentions.  It now heads to the full Assembly for further consideration.   

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