N.J. Stat. tit. 32, ch. 8

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-1 Preamble; agreement

The governor is hereby authorized to enter into a compact or agreement on behalf of the state of New Jersey with the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in substantially the following form: AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA CREATING THE DELAWARE RIVER JOINT TOLL BRIDGE COMMISSION AS A BODY CORPORATE AND POLITIC AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND DUTIES Whereas, The commission on behalf of the state of New Jersey, existing by virtue of the provisions of the act approved the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twelve (chapter two hundred and ninety-seven), and its supplements and amendments thereto, and the commission on behalf of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, existing by virtue of the act approved the eighth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen (pamphlet laws one hundred forty-eight), and its supplements and amendments thereto, acting as a joint commission, have acquired various toll bridges over the Delaware river between the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Whereas, Additional bridge facilities between the two states will be required in the future for the accommodation of the public and the development of both states; and Whereas, Such additional bridge facilities should be developed without the expenditure of large sums from the public revenues; and Whereas, It is highly desirable that there be a single agency for both states empowered to further the transportation interests of these states with respect to that part of the Delaware river north of the stone arch bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad from Trenton to Morrisville; Now, Therefore, The state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby solemnly covenant and agree, each with the other, as follows:

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-2 Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission

32:8-2. There is hereby created a body corporate and politic, to be known as the "Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission" (hereinafter in this agreement called the "commission"), which shall consist of the commissioners, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided for by the act, approved the eighth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen (Pamphlet Laws, one hundred forty-eight), and its supplements and amendments, for the acquisition of toll bridges over the Delaware River, and of commissioners, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, provided for by the act, approved the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twelve (Chapter two hundred ninety-seven), and its supplements and amendments, for the acquisition of toll bridges over the Delaware River, which said commissions have heretofore been acting as a joint commission by virtue of reciprocal legislation. No action of the commission shall be binding unless a majority of the members of the commission from Pennsylvania and a majority of the members of the commission from New Jersey shall vote in favor thereof. In the event that any ex-officio member of the commission from Pennsylvania shall for any reason be absent from a meeting of the commission, a deputy or other person in his department designated by him for such purpose shall be authorized to act at such meeting for and in behalf of such absent member and to vote in his place on all matters which may be presented for consideration at such meeting. Such designation shall be signed by such ex-officio member and filed with the secretary of the commission and shall continue in effect until the expiration of the term of office of such member or until another designation shall be made. In the event that any ex-officio member of the commission from New Jersey shall for any reason be absent from a meeting of the commission, a deputy or other person in the ex-officio member's department designated by the ex-officio member for such purpose shall be authorized to act at such meeting for and in behalf of such absent member and to vote in the member's place on all matters which may be presented for consideration at such meeting. Such designation shall be signed by the ex-officio member and filed with the secretary of the commission and shall continue in effect until the expiration of the term of office of such member or until another designation shall be made. The commission shall constitute the public corporate instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey for the following public purposes, and shall be deemed to be exercising an essential governmental function in effectuating such purposes, to wit: (a) The administration, operation, and maintenance of the joint State-owned bridges across the Delaware River between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, and located north of the present stone arch bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad across the Delaware River from Morrisville to Trenton; (b) The investigation of the necessity for additional bridge communications over the Delaware River, and the making of such studies, surveys and estimates as may be necessary to determine the feasibility and cost of such additional bridge communications; (c) The preparation of plans and specifications for, and location, acquisition, construction, administration, operation and maintenance of, such additional bridge communications over the Delaware River, at any location north of the boundary line between Bucks county and Philadelphia county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as extended across the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore of said river, as the commission deems necessary to advance the interests of the two States and to facilitate public travel; and the issuance of bonds and obligations to provide moneys sufficient for the acquisition or construction of such bridges; and the collection of tolls, rentals, and charges for the redemption of such bonds and obligations, and the payment of interest thereon; (d) The procurement from the government of the United States of any consents which may be requisite to enable the commission to exercise any of its powers; (e) The investigation of the necessity for additional port and terminal facilities within the area (hereinafter referred to as the "district') comprising all of the territory within the counties of Bucks, Northampton, Monroe and Pike in Pennsylvania, all of the territory within the counties of Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Mercer in New Jersey, and that part of the territory within the county of Burlington in New Jersey north of the northerly bank of Rancocas Creek as said creek and its north branch extend in a general easterly direction from the Delaware River and through Mount Holly, Pemberton and Browns Mills and other communities to the Burlington-Ocean County boundary line in New Jersey; (f) The acquisition, construction, administration, operation and maintenance of such port and terminal facilities within the district as the commission may deem necessary to advance the interests of the two States; the issuance of bonds or other obligations of the commission to provide moneys sufficient for the acquisition or construction of such facilities; and the collection of fees, rentals, tolls and other charges for the payment of such bonds or obligations and the interest thereon, and for the administration, operation and maintenance of such facilities. Amended 1952,c.333,ss.1(1),2-5; 1994,c.173,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3 Powers of commission

32:8-3. For the effectuation of its authorized purposes, the commission is hereby granted the following powers as limited and supplemented by P.L.1994, c.176 (C.32:8-3.5 et seq.) and P.L.1994, c.177 (C.32:8-3.8 et seq.): (a) To have perpetual succession. (b) To sue and be sued. (c) To adopt and use an official seal. (d) To elect a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer and appoint an engineer. The secretary, treasurer, and engineer need not be members of the commission. (e) To adopt suitable by-laws for the management of its affairs. (f) To appoint such other officers, agents and employees as it may require for the performance of its duties. (g) To determine the qualifications and duties of its appointees, and to fix their compensation, except that the commission shall not employ directly or as an independent contractor a member of the commission for a period of two years after the expiration of the term of office of that member. (h) To enter into contracts. (i) To acquire, own, hire, use, operate, and dispose of personal property. (j) To acquire, own, use, lease, operate, and dispose of real property and interest in real property, and to make improvements thereon. (k) To grant the use of, by franchise, lease, and otherwise, and to make and collect charges for the use of, any property or facility owned or controlled by it. (l) To borrow money upon its bonds or other obligations, either with or without security. (m) To exercise the power of eminent domain. (n) To determine the exact location, system, and character of, and all other matters in connection with, any and all improvements or facilities which it may be authorized to own, construct, establish, effectuate, maintain, operate or control. (o) In addition to the foregoing powers, to exercise the powers, duties, authority and jurisdiction heretofore conferred and imposed upon the aforesaid commissions, hereby constituted a joint commission by reciprocal legislation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, with respect to the acquisition of toll bridges over the Delaware River, the management, operation and maintenance of such bridges, and the location, acquisition, construction, administration, operation and maintenance of additional bridge communications over the Delaware River at any location north of the boundary line between Bucks county and Philadelphia county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as extended across the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore of said river. The powers granted in this paragraph shall be in addition to those powers granted by paragraph (a) of Article X of this agreement. (p) To exercise all other powers, not inconsistent with the Constitutions of the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey or of the United States, which may be reasonably necessary or incidental to the effectuation of its authorized purposes or to the exercise of any of the powers granted to the commission by this agreement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, except the power to levy taxes or assessments for benefits; and generally to exercise, in connection with its property and affairs and in connection with property under its control, any and all powers which might be exercised by a natural person or a private corporation in connection with similar property and affairs. (q) To acquire, construct, rehabilitate, improve, maintain, lease as lessor or as lessee, repair and operate port and terminal facilities as hereinafter defined within the district, including the dredging of ship channels and turning basins and the filling and grading of land therefor. (r) To provide from time to time for the issuance of its bonds or other obligations for any one or more of its corporate purposes; all bonds and other obligations hereafter issued by the commission shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments. (s) To fix, charge, and collect fees, rentals, tolls and other charges for the use of any of its port and terminal facilities so as to provide funds at least sufficient, with other funds available for such purposes (1) to pay the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating such port and terminal facilities, including the administrative expenses of the commission chargeable thereto, (2) to pay the bonds or other obligations issued on account of such facilities and the interest thereon as the same become due and payable, and (3) to provide reserves for such purposes, and to pledge such funds, over and above such costs of maintenance, repair and operation, to the payment of such bonds or other obligations and the interest thereon. (t) To petition the Interstate Commerce Commission, any public service or public utilities commission, or any other Federal, State or local authority, whether administrative, judicial or legislative, for the adoption and execution of any physical improvement, change in method, rate of transportation, system of handling freight, warehousing, docking, lightering or transfer of freight, which, in the opinion of the commission, may be designed to improve or facilitate the movement or handling of commerce within the district or improve the terminal or transportation facilities therein. As used in this agreement the term "port and terminal facilities" shall mean and shall include, without intending thereby to limit the definition of such term, any one or more of the following or any combination thereof: (1) every kind of terminal or storage structure or facility now in use or hereafter designed for use in the handling, storage, loading or unloading of freight or passengers at steamship, railroad or motor terminals or airports, and every kind of transportation facility now in use or hereafter designed for use in connection therewith; and (2) all real and personal property and all works, buildings, structures, equipment, machinery, appliances and appurtenances necessary or convenient for the proper construction, equipment, maintenance and operation of such facility or facilities or any one or more of them. Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement or any provision of law, State or Federal, to the contrary, the commission may combine for financing purposes any port and terminal facility or facilities constructed or acquired by it under the provisions of this agreement with any bridge or bridges heretofore or hereafter constructed or acquired by the commission, subject to any limitations contained in any trust indenture securing bonds of the commission at the time outstanding. The powers herein granted to the commission with reference to port and terminal facilities shall supersede the right to exercise any such powers within the district, as defined in paragraph (e) of Article I of this agreement, by any other body which has been heretofore created by compact or agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. Nothing contained in any other of the provisions of this compact or agreement shall be deemed or construed to amend, modify or repeal any of the powers, rights or duties conferred by, or limitations or restrictions expressed in, Article X of this compact or agreement, or any of the provisions of said Article X relating to a bridge to be constructed, operated and maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission or the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, acting alone or in conjunction with each other. Notwithstanding the above, each state reserves the right to provide by law for the exercise of a veto power by the Governor of that state over any action of any commissioner from that state at any time within 10 days (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the particular state excepted) after receipt at the Governor's office of a certified copy of the minutes of the meeting at which such vote was taken. Each state may provide by law for the manner of delivery of such minutes, and for notification of the action thereon. Amended 1952,c.333,ss.1(2),2-5; 1994,c.173,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.1 Supplemental compact to have force of statute upon its signature

Upon its signature on behalf of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the supplemental compact or agreement hereinabove set forth shall become binding, and shall have the force and effect of a statute of the State of New Jersey, and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall thereupon become vested with all the powers, rights, and privileges, and be subject to the duties and obligations contained therein, as though the same were specifically authorized and imposed by statute, and the State of New Jersey shall be bound by all of the obligations assumed by it under such supplemental compact or agreement, and the Governor shall transmit an original signed copy thereof to the Secretary of State for filing in his office. L.1952, c. 333, p. 1070, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.2 Consent and approval of Congress

The Governor is hereby authorized to apply, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, to the Congress of the United States for its consent and approval to such supplemental compact or agreement. L.1952, c. 333, p. 1071, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.3 Partial invalidity

If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable. L.1952, c. 333, p. 1071, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.4 Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; but the Governor shall not enter into the supplemental compact or agreement hereinabove set forth on behalf of the State of New Jersey until passage by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of a substantially similar act, embodying the supplemental compact or agreement between the two States. L.1952, c. 333, p. 1071, s. 5.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.5 Findings, declarations

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission was created by this State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with the consent of Congress, to provide an efficient means of carrying out the planning, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of certain Delaware River crossings. b. The State and the Commonwealth rely upon the commission to competently execute the duties and powers delegated to it as well as to carefully manage the not inconsiderable financial means available to the commission. c. Notwithstanding the delegation of power to the commission, it is incumbent upon the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ensure that the commission executes its powers in a manner which ensures fairness to prospective employees. In addition, it is appropriate for the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to include certain fundamental governmental policies, such as equal employment opportunity, in the commission's enabling laws. d. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the public to supplement or limit the powers of the commission, as the case may be, to ensure that commission employment practices are in accordance with the public policies of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. L.1994,c.176,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.6 Equal opportunity employment; awarding of contracts.

2. a. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall formulate and abide by an affirmative action program of equal opportunity whereby it will provide equal employment opportunity to members of minority groups qualified in all employment categories, including persons with disabilities, in accordance with the provisions of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1) and the "Pennsylvania Human Relations Act," number 222 of the laws of Pennsylvania of 1955, except in the case of the mentally disabled, if it can be clearly shown that such disability would prevent such person from performing a particular job. b. Contracts and subcontracts to be awarded by the commission in connection with the construction, renovation or reconstruction of any structure or facility owned or used by the commission shall contain appropriate provisions by which contractors and subcontractors or their assignees agree to afford an equal employment opportunity to all prospective employees and to all actual employees to be employed by the contractor or subcontractor in accordance with an affirmative action program consonant with the provisions of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1) and the "Pennsylvania Human Relations Act," number 222 of the laws of Pennsylvania of 1955. L.1994,c.176,s.2; amended 2003, c.180, s.27.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.7 Hiring practice policy

3. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, in the exercise of its authority to appoint officers, agents and employees, shall adopt a policy of open and competitive hiring practices. The policy shall provide, at a minimum, that: a. Job application forms shall be available at all commission facilities; and b. All open positions shall be advertised in at least two newspapers published in New Jersey and two newspapers published in Pennsylvania. L.1994,c.176,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.8 Findings, declarations

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission was created by this State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with the consent of Congress, to provide an efficient means of carrying out the planning, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of certain Delaware River crossings . b. The State and the Commonwealth rely upon the commission to competently execute the duties and powers delegated to it as well as carefully managing the not inconsiderable financial means available to the commission. c. Notwithstanding the delegation of power to the commission, it is incumbent upon the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ensure that the commission carries out its duties in a manner which ensures prudent use of toll payer monies. d. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the public to supplement or limit the powers of the commission, as the case may be, to require the commission to competitively bid contracts in accordance with the public policies of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. L.1994,c.177,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-3.9 Operating rules, procedures; competitive purchasing

2. a. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, in the exercise of its authority to make and enter into contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers, shall adopt standing operating rules and procedures requiring that, except as hereinafter provided, no contract on behalf of the commission shall be entered into for the doing of any work, or for the hiring of equipment or vehicles, where the sum to be expended exceeds $10,000 unless the commission shall first publicly advertise for bids therefor, and requiring that the commission award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder; provided, however, that such advertising shall not be required where the contract to be entered into is one for the furnishing or performing services of a professional nature or for the supplying of any product or the rendering of any service by a public utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Board of Public Utilities of this State and tariffs and schedules of the charges, made, charged, or exacted by the public utility for any such products to be supplied or services to be rendered are filed with the appropriate boards. This subsection shall not prevent the commission from having any work done by its own employees, nor shall it apply to repairs, or to the furnishing of materials, supplies or labor, or the hiring of equipment or vehicles, when the safety or protection of its or other public property or the public convenience require, or the exigency of the commission's service will not admit of such advertisement. In such case the commission shall, by resolution, passed by the affirmative vote of a majority of its members, declare the exigency or emergency to exist, and set forth in the resolution the nature thereof and the approximate amount to be so expended. b. The commission may annually adjust the threshold amount in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the consumer price index for all urban consumers in the New York City and Philadelphia areas as reported by the United States Department of Labor. L.1994,c.177,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-4 Condemnation of real property; entry upon lands; municipal consents and conveyances; "real property" defined

ARTICLE III. If for any of its authorized purposes (including temporary purposes) the commission shall find it necessary or convenient to acquire for public use any real property in the state of New Jersey or the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whether for immediate or future use, the commission may, by resolution, determine to acquire such property by a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, and the said determination shall not be affected by the fact that such property has theretofore been taken for or is then devoted to a public use, but the public use in the hands or under the control of the commission shall be deemed superior to the public use in the hands or under the control of any other person, association, or corporation. If the commission is unable to agree with the owner or owners thereof upon terms for the acquisition of any such real property, in the state of New Jersey, for any reason whatsoever, then the commission may acquire such property by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, in the manner provided by an act entitled "An act authorizing the acquisition and maintaining by the state of New Jersey, in conjunction with the state of Pennsylvania, of toll bridges across the Delaware river, and providing for free travel across the same," approved the first day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twelve (chapter two hundred ninety-seven), and the various acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, relating to the acquisition of interstate toll bridges over the Delaware river. If the commission is unable to agree with the owner or owners thereof upon terms for the acquisition of any such real property, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for any reason whatsoever, then the commission may acquire such real property by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, in the manner provided by the act approved the eighth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen (pamphlet laws, one hundred forty-eight), entitled "An act providing for the joint acquisition and maintenance by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey of certain toll bridges over the Delaware river," and the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, relating to the acquisition of interstate toll bridges over the Delaware river. The power of the commission to acquire real property by condemnation or the exercise of the power of eminent domain in the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be a continuing power and no exercise thereof shall be deemed to exhaust it. The commission and its duly authorized agents and employees may enter upon any land, in the state of New Jersey or the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of making such surveys, maps, or other examinations thereof as it may deem necessary or convenient for its authorized purposes. However, anything to the contrary contained in this compact notwithstanding, no property, now or hereafter vested in or held by any county, city, borough, village, township or other municipality, shall be taken by the commission without the consent of such municipality, unless expressly authorized so to do by the state or commonwealth in which such municipality is located. All counties, cities, boroughs, villages, townships and other municipalities, and all public agencies and commissions of the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, are hereby authorized and empowered to grant and convey to the commission upon its request, but not otherwise, upon reasonable terms and conditions, any real property which may be necessary or convenient to the effectuation of its authorized purposes, including real property already devoted to public use. The state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby consent to the use and occupation by the commission of any real property of the said two states, or of either of them, which may be or become necessary or convenient to the effectuation of the authorized purposes of the commission, including lands lying under water and lands already devoted to public use. The term "real property" as used in this compact includes lands, structures, franchises, and interests in land, including lands under water and riparian rights, and any and all things and rights usually included within the said term, and includes not only fees simple and absolute, but also any and all lesser interests, such as easements, rights of way, uses, leases, licenses, and all other incorporated [incorporeal] hereditaments and every estate, interest or right, legal or equitable, including terms of years and liens thereon by way of judgments, mortgages, or otherwise, and also claims for damage to real estate.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-5 Pledging credit of states, counties or municipalities prohibited

ARTICLE IV. Notwithstanding any provision of this agreement, the commission shall have no power to pledge the credit of the state of New Jersey, or of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or of any county, city, borough, village, township and other municipality of said state or commonwealth, or to create any debt against said state or commonwealth or any such municipality.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-6 Rules and regulations; tolls; pledging revenues

ARTICLE V. The commission is hereby authorized to make and enforce such rules and regulations, and to establish, levy and collect (or to authorize, by contract, franchise, liens or otherwise, the establishment, levying and collection of) such tolls, rates, rents and other charges, in connection with any such bridge across the Delaware river which it may hereafter construct and operate, as it may deem necessary, proper, desirable and reasonable, which tolls, rates, rents, and other charges shall be at least sufficient to meet interest and sinking fund charges on bonds and obligations issued by the commission, the maintenance of such bridge, and the administrative expenses of the commission properly chargeable to such bridge. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to pledge such tolls, rates, rents, and other revenues, or any part thereof, as security for the repayment, with interest, of any moneys borrowed by it or advanced to it for any of its authorized purposes, and as security for the satisfaction of any other obligation assumed by it in connection with such loans or advances.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-7 Powers of commission not to be impaired; restriction on additional bridge or tunnel

ARTICLE VI. The state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby covenant and agree with each other and with the holders of any bonds or other obligations of the commission, for which tolls, rents, rates, or other revenues have been pledged, that, so long as any of said bonds or obligations remain outstanding and unpaid (unless adequate provision is otherwise made by law for the protection of those advancing moneys upon such bonds or obligations), the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not diminish or impair the power of the commission to own, operate and control said properties and facilities, or to establish, levy and collect tolls, rents, rates, and other charges in connection with such properties and facilities. The state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby covenant and agree with each other and with the holders of any bonds or obligations of the commission for which tolls, rents, rates or other revenues shall have been pledged, that the said state and commonwealth will not authorize or permit the construction, operation and maintenance of any additional bridge or tunnel for the transportation of passengers by vehicles over the Delaware river by any other person or body, than the commission, within a distance of ten miles in either direction from any such toll bridges, measured along the boundary line between the said state and the said commonwealth.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-8 Bonds of commission as legal investments

ARTICLE VII. The bonds or obligations which may be issued by the commission for any of its authorized purposes, and as security for which tolls, rents, rates, and other revenues shall have been pledged, are hereby made securities in which all state and municipal officers and bodies of the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, or insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business, and all administrators, executors, guardians, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever, who now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state of New Jersey or of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital belonging to them or within their control; and said bonds or other obligations are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state or municipal officer, or agency of the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations, either of the state or of the commonwealth, is now or may hereafter be authorized.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-9 Property and securities of commission tax-exempt

ARTICLE VIII. The effectuation of its authorized purposes by the commission is and will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and since the commission will be performing essential governmental functions in effectuating said purposes, the commission shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any property acquired or used by it for purposes authorized by this agreement; and the bonds or obligations issued by the commission, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profits made on the sale thereof, shall, at all times, be free from taxation within the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-10 Annual reports, audits

32:8-10. The commission shall make annual reports to the Governors and Legislatures of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, setting forth in detail its operations and transactions, and may make such additional reports, from time to time, to the Governors and Legislatures as it may deem advisable. The Auditor General of Pennsylvania and the State Auditor of New Jersey shall jointly conduct annual financial and management audits of expenditures and operations of the commission and shall submit a report of those audits to the Governors and Legislatures of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. Amended 1947,c.283,ss.1(1),2,3,5; 1994,c.173,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11 Amendment of agreement authorized; preamble; power of commission

ARTICLE X. (a) The commission may acquire, construct, rehabilitate, improve, maintain, repair and operate bridges for vehicular or pedestrian traffic across the Delaware river between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey at any location north of the boundary line between Bucks county and Philadelphia county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as extended across the Delaware river to the New Jersey shore of said river. The commission may also, subject to the approval of the State Highway Department of the State of New Jersey and the Department of Highways of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, lease such bridges as lessor to, and contract for the operation of such bridges by, one or more public bodies, instrumentalities, commissions, or public agencies. Whenever any bridge north of the boundary line described above in this paragraph (a), proposed to be acquired by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, has been constructed pursuant to consent or authorization granted by Federal law, the acquisition of such bridge by the commission shall be by purchase or by condemnation in accordance with the provisions of such Federal law, or the acquisition of such bridge by the commission shall be pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of sections 48:5-22 and 48:5-23 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, and for all the purposes of said provisions and sections the commission is hereby appointed as the agency of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania exercising the rights and powers granted or reserved by said Federal law or sections to the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania jointly or to the State of New Jersey acting in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The commission shall have authority to so acquire such bridge whether the same be owned, held, operated or maintained by any private person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation or by any instrumentality, public body, commission, public agency or political subdivision (including any county or municipality) of, or created by or in, the State of New Jersey or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or by any instrumentality, public body, commission or public agency of, or created by or in, a political subdivision (including any county or municipality) of the State of New Jersey or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to other powers conferred upon it, and not in limitation thereof, the commission may acquire all right, title and interest in and to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, across the Delaware river at Palmyra, New Jersey, together with any approaches and interests in real property necessary thereto. The acquisition of such bridge, approaches and interests by the commission shall be by purchase or by condemnation in accordance with the provisions of the Federal law consenting to or authorizing the construction of such bridge and approaches, or the acquisition of such bridge, approaches or interests by the commission shall be pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of sections 48:5-22 and 48:5-23 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, and for all the purposes of said provisions and sections the commission is hereby appointed as the agency of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania exercising the rights and powers granted or reserved by said Federal law or sections to the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania jointly or to the State of New Jersey acting in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The commission shall have authority to so acquire such bridge, approaches and interests, whether the same be owned, held, operated, or maintained by any private person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation or by any instrumentality, public body, commission, public agency or political subdivision (including any county or municipality) of, or created by or in, the State of New Jersey or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or by any instrumentality, public body, commission or public agency of, or created by or in, a political subdivision (including any county or municipality) of the State of New Jersey or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The power and authority herein granted to the commission to acquire said Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, approaches and interests shall not be exercised unless and until the Governor of the State of New Jersey and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have filed with the commission their written consents to such acquisition. The word "bridge" as used in this Agreement shall include such approach highways and interests in real property necessary thereto in said Commonwealth or said State as may be determined by the commission to be necessary to facilitate the flow of traffic in the vicinity of any such bridge or to connect such bridge with the highway system or other traffic facilities in said Commonwealth or said State; provided, however, that the power and authority herein granted to the commission in connection with the approach highways shall not be exercised unless and until the Department of Highways of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall have filed with the commission its written approval as to approach highways to be located in said Commonwealth and the State Highway Department of the State of New Jersey shall have filed with the commission its written approval as to approach highways to be located in said State. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any provision of law, State or Federal, to the contrary, the commission may combine for financing purposes any bridge or bridges hereafter constructed or acquired by it with any or all of the bridges described or referred to in any trust indenture securing bridge revenue bonds of the commission at the time outstanding, subject to any limitations or restrictions contained in such trust indenture. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit or impair any right or power granted or to be granted to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission or the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, acting alone or in conjunction with each other, to provide for the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of one bridge across the Delaware river south of the city of Trenton in the State of New Jersey; provided, that such bridge shall not be constructed within a distance of ten miles, measured along the boundary line between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, from the bridge being constructed across the Delaware river by the commission between the borough of Morrisville in said Commonwealth and the city of Trenton in said State, so long as there are any outstanding bonds or obligations of the commission for which the tolls, rents, rates, or other revenues, or any part thereof, of said bridge now being constructed shall have been pledged; but such bridge may be constructed at any other location north of the boundary line described above in this paragraph (a). Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to authorize the commission to condemn any such bridge. (b) The commission may replace any one or more existing bridges across the Delaware river between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey north of said line with one or more new bridges at such locations as the commission may determine to be adequate and convenient for the traffic to be served thereby. (c) The commission may acquire by purchase or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any existing ferry or bridge the acquisition of which the commission may determine to be necessary or advisable in connection with the construction of a new bridge, the cost of such acquisition to be deemed to be a part of the cost of such construction. (d) The commission may enter upon, use, occupy, enlarge, construct and improve any street, road or highway located within the limits of any municipality and deemed by the commission to be necessary in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance or operation of any bridge owned or operated by the commission or of any bridge approaches, bridge plazas or approach highways to any such bridge, subject, however, to the consent of the governing body of such municipality and to such reasonable police regulations as may be established by such governing body. (e) The commission may demolish and remove any bridge now operated by it when such bridge has been or is being replaced by a new bridge at the same or a different location which in the determination of the commission will serve substantially the same traffic as that served by such existing bridge, and the commission may sell or otherwise dispose of any ferry or other property of the commission deemed by it to be no longer useful or needed for the purposes of the commission. (f) The commission may acquire for the purposes of this article any real property which it shall find necessary or convenient to acquire for public use in the manner provided by Article III of this Agreement, or, in the alternative, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the same manner and with the same right of entry as the highway department of the Commonwealth may acquire lands by condemnation for highway purposes and in the State of New Jersey in the same manner and with the same right of entry as the highway department of the State may acquire lands by condemnation for highway purposes. (g) The commission may make and enforce such rules and regulations with respect to the use of any bridge operated by it as it shall deem proper and reasonable, including regulations limiting the loads permitted on any such bridge and closing to traffic any such bridge deemed by the commission to be unsafe. (h) The commission may provide, from time to time, for the issuance of its bridge revenue bonds for any one or more of the following purposes: (1) providing funds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation or improvement of any one or more bridges the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation or improvement of which is herein authorized; (2) providing funds for the construction or improvement of approach facilities deemed by the commission to be necessary or desirable in connection with the acquisition, construction, maintenance or operation of any bridge owned or operated by the commission, including but without limitation bridge approaches, entrance plazas, overpasses, underpasses and approach highways; and (3) refunding any bridge revenue bonds or bridge revenue refunding bonds of the commission. The bridge or bridges (including any approach facilities) on account of which a single issue of bonds shall be issued as herein authorized shall constitute a single project for financing purposes. (i) The commission may fix, charge and collect tolls, rates, rents and other charges for the use of any bridge or bridges constituting a single project, such tolls to be fixed and adjusted, subject to any applicable Federal law, as to provide funds at least sufficient (1) to pay the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating such bridge or bridges, including the administrative expenses of the commission chargeable thereto, (2) to pay the bridge revenue bonds or the bridge revenue refunding bonds issued on account of such project and the interest on such bonds, and (3) to provide reserves for such purposes; provided, however, that no tolls shall be charged or collected for the use of any bridge now operated by the commission as a free bridge but only for the use of bridges constructed or acquired by the commission under the provisions of this compact or agreement. Subject to any applicable Federal law, the commission may pledge such tolls, rates, rents and other revenues or any part thereof for such purposes. The commission may establish separate schedules of tolls, rates and charges for use of any bridge on which tolls may be established hereunder by residents of areas adjacent to or served directly by such bridge under such conditions and on such terms as it shall determine to be proper and reasonable, including tolls, rates and charges for unlimited use of any such bridge. No member of the commission shall be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of any act or omission of the commission. Amended by L.1947, c. 283, p. 992, s. 1; L.1951, c. 284, p. 1017, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.1 Effect of supplemental compact upon signature; filing of copy

Upon its signature on behalf of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the supplemental compact or agreement hereinabove set forth shall become binding and shall have the force and effect of a statute of the State of New Jersey, and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall thereupon become vested with all the powers, rights, and privileges, and be subject to the duties and obligations contained therein, as though the same were specifically authorized and imposed by statute, and the State of New Jersey shall be bound by all of the obligations assumed by it under such supplemental compact or agreement; and the Governor shall transmit an original signed copy thereof to the Secretary of State for filing in his office. L.1951, c. 284, p. 1021, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.2 Consent of Congress

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.3 State Highway Department defined

As used herein the term "State Highway Department of the State of New Jersey" shall mean the State Highway Commissioner of the State of New Jersey. L.1951, c. 284, p. 1022, s. 5.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.4 Act not repealed; compact pursuant thereto not affected

The provisions of this act shall not be construed to repeal any of the provisions of the act entitled "An act providing for joint action by Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the development of the ports on the lower Delaware river and the improvement of the facilities for transportation across the said river; authorizing the New Jersey Interstate Bridge Commission on behalf of the State of New Jersey for these purposes to enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania creating the Delaware River Joint Commission and specifying the powers and duties thereof, including the power to finance projects by the issuance of revenue bonds; transferring to the new commission all the powers of the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission and making an appropriation," approved June thirtieth, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one (P.L.1931, c. 391), its amendments or supplements, or apply to or affect in any manner any agreement made between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey pursuant to the provisions of said acts. L.1951, c. 284, p. 1022, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.5 Partial invalidity; severability

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-11.6 Effective date

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-12 Compact to have force and effect of statute

ARTICLE XI. Upon its signature on behalf of the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this compact or agreement shall become binding and shall have the force and effect of a statute of the state of New Jersey, and the commission shall thereupon become vested with all the powers, rights, and privileges, and be subject to the duties and obligations contained therein, as though the same were specifically authorized and imposed by statute, and the state of New Jersey shall be bound by all of the obligations assumed by it under this compact or agreement; and the governor shall transmit an original signed copy thereof to the secretary of state for filing in his office. The governor is hereby authorized to apply, on behalf of the state of New Jersey, to the congress of the United States for its consent and approval to this compact or agreement; but in the absence of such consent and approval, the commission shall have all of the powers which the state of New Jersey and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania may confer upon it without the consent and approval of congress. L.1934, c. 215, s. 1, pp. 498 to 509.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-13 Appropriation; return; disbursement

ARTICLE XII. The sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby specifically appropriated to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, to be used by it, together with a like appropriation made by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this compact, except the operation, maintenance, improvement or construction of any new toll bridge over the Delaware river. The appropriation herein made to be taken from the funds of the commission on elimination of toll bridges, and to be returned to that commission within five years after the completion of the first toll bridge constructed, with interest at the rate paid on the bonds issued for the construction of that particular bridge. The moneys herein appropriated shall be disbursed upon requisition of the chairman of the commission presented to the comptroller, and paid by the state treasurer in the usual manner. L.1934, c. 215, s. 2, p. 509.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-14 Concurrent legislation by Pennsylvania

This act shall become effective immediately upon its signing by the governor and the passage by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania of a substantially similar act, embodying the agreement between the two states herein set forth, and making a like appropriation. L.1934, c. 215, s. 3, p. 510.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-15 Tolls on free bridges not authorized

It is the intention of the legislature of New Jersey that this act shall in nowise authorize tolls to be collected on bridges crossing the Delaware river now free bridges. L.1934, c. 215, s. 4, p. 510.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-15.6 Minutes delivery; actions taking effect

1. a. The minutes of every meeting of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, established under R.S.32:8-1 et seq., shall, as soon as possible after the meeting, be delivered, by and under the certification of the secretary of the commission, to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, at the State House, in Trenton. b. No action taken by a New Jersey commissioner at the meeting shall have force or effect for a period of 10 days, except Saturdays, Sundays and State public holidays, after the minutes have been delivered to the Governor under this section, unless the Governor approves the minutes, or any part thereof, in writing, by reciting the action approved, within this 10-day period. This veto power shall not be construed to affect the covenants contained in the bonds of the commission. L.1994,c.174,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-15.7 Return of minutes

2. The Governor of New Jersey shall return the minutes to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge, not later than the 10-day period described in subsection b. of section 1 of this act, either with or without a veto of any action recited in the minutes to have been taken by a commissioner appointed from New Jersey. If the Governor does not return the minutes within this 10-day period, the action taken by the New Jersey commissioners shall have the force and effect as recited in the minutes, according to the wording thereof. L.1994,c.174,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-15.8 Governor's veto of minutes

3. If the Governor of New Jersey, within the 10-day period described in subsection b. of section 1 of this act, returns the minutes to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission with a veto against the action of a commissioner from New Jersey, the action of that commissioner shall be null and void and of no effect. L.1994,c.174,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-16 Repeal of certain laws

Any provision of law heretofore enacted (except laws authorizing interstate compacts or agreements) which (a) restricts, prohibits, or limits the acquisition by, or any right or power of acquisition of, this State, acting alone or in conjunction with any other State or public body, of any bridge over the Delaware river, or the necessary approaches or appurtenances thereto, owned, operated or maintained by any county or municipality of this State, or any bridge commission, bridge authority, public officer, board, commission or agency or other public body created by or in this State or any county or municipality thereof; or (b) restricts, prohibits, or limits the construction or acquisition of any bridge or tunnel over or under the Delaware river within any distance from any bridge at any time authorized, owned, held, operated or maintained by any county or municipality of this State, or any bridge commission, bridge authority, public officer, board, commission or agency or other public body created by or in this State or any county or municipality thereof; is hereby repealed. L.1951, c. 284, p. 1021, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-17 New Delaware River bridge authorized

The Governor is authorized to enter into a supplemental compact or agreement on behalf of the State of New Jersey with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supplementing the compact or agreement entitled "Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey creating the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission as a body corporate and politic and defining its powers and duties," which was executed on behalf of the State of New Jersey by its Governor on December 18, 1934, and on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by its Governor on December 19, 1934, and which compact or agreement was thereafter amended and supplemented by compacts or agreements executed by the respective States, such supplemental compact or agreement to be in substantially the following form: "Supplemental agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey supplementing the compact or agreement entitled "Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey creating the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission as a body corporate and politic and defining its powers and duties,' as heretofore amended and supplemented, to establish the purposes for which the commission may fix, charge and collect tolls, rates, rents and other charges for the use of commission facilities and properties. "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey do solemnly covenant and agree, each with the other, as follows: A. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the compact or agreement hereby supplemented, or any provision of law, state or federal, to the contrary, as soon as the existing outstanding bonded indebtedness of the commission shall be refunded, defeased, retired or otherwise satisfied and thereafter, the commission may fix, charge and collect tolls, rates, rents and other charges for the use of any commission facility or property and in addition to any purpose now or heretofore or hereafter authorized for which the revenues from such tolls, rates, rents or other charges may be applied, the commission is authorized to apply or expend any such revenue for the management, operation, maintenance, betterment, reconstruction or replacement (a) of the existing non-toll bridges, formerly toll or otherwise, over the Delaware river between the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania heretofore acquired by the commission pursuant to the provisions of the act of the State of New Jersey approved April 1, 1912 (Chapter 297), and all supplements and amendments thereto, and the act of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved May 8, 1919 (Pamphlet Laws 148), and all supplements and amendments thereto, and (b) of all other bridges within the commission's jurisdiction and controL. Betterment shall include but not be limited to parking areas for public transportation services and all facilities appurtenant to approved projects. (2) The commission may borrow money or otherwise incur indebtedness and provide from time to time for the issuance of its bonds or other obligations for one or more of the purposes authorized in this supplemental agreement. The commission is authorized to pledge its tolls, rates, rents and other revenues, or any part thereof, as security for the repayment, with interest, of any moneys borrowed by it or advanced to it for any of its authorized purposes, and as security for the satisfaction of any other obligation assumed by it in connection with such loans or advances. (3) The authority of the commission to fix, charge and collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on the bridges within its jurisdiction, including the bridge at the Delaware Water Gap, is confirmed. (4) The covenants of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as set forth in Article VI of the compact to which this is a supplemental agreement shall be fully applicable to any bonds or other obligations issued or undertaken by the commission. Notwithstanding Article VI or any other provision of the commission's compact, the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may construct a bridge across the Delaware river in the vicinity of Easton, Pennsylvania and Phillipsburg, New Jersey within 10 miles of the existing toll bridge at that location. All the rest and remainder of the commission's compact, as amended or supplemented, shall be in full force and effect except to the extent it is inconsistent with this supplemental agreement. B. The commission is authorized to fix, charge or collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on the proposed bridge to be constructed in the vicinity of Easton, Pennsylvania and Phillipsburg, New Jersey in the same manner and to the same extent that it can do so for other toll bridges under its jurisdiction and control; provided that the United States Government has approved the bridge to be a part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways with 90% of the cost of construction to be contributed by the United States Government and provided further that the nonfederal share of such bridge project is contributed by the commission. The commission is further authorized in the same manner and to the same extent that it can do so for all other toll bridges under its jurisdiction and control to fix, charge and collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on any other bridge within its jurisdiction and control, if such bridge has been constructed in part with federal funds. C. The consent of Congress to this compact shall constitute federal approval of the powers herein vested in the commission and shall also constitute authority to the United States Department of Transportation or any successor agency and the intent of Congress to grant any federal approvals required hereunder to permit the commission to fix, charge and collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on the bridges within its jurisdiction to the extent provided in subsections A. and B. and this subsection and the commission's compact. D. Notwithstanding the above provisions, the commission shall not fix, charge or collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on any of the various bridges formerly toll or otherwise over the Delaware river between the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania heretofore acquired by the commission pursuant to the provisions of the act of the State of New Jersey approved April 1, 1912 (Chapter 297), and all supplements and amendments thereto, and the act of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved May 8, 1919 (Pamphlet Laws 148), and all supplements and amendments thereto. E. At any time that the commission shall be free of all outstanding indebtedness, the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may, by the enactment of substantially similar acts, require the elimination of all tolls, rates, rents and other charges on all bridges within the commission's jurisdiction and control and, thereafter, all costs and charges in connection with the construction, management, operation, maintenance and betterment of bridges within the jurisdiction and control of the commission shall be the financial responsibility of the states as provided by law." L. 1985, c. 342, s. 1, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-18 Agreement binding

Upon its signature on behalf of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the supplemental compact or agreement set forth in section 1 of this act shall become binding, and shall have the force and effect of a statute of the State of New Jersey and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall thereupon become vested with all the powers, rights, and privileges, and be subject to the duties, obligations, conditions and limitations contained therein, as though the same were specifically authorized and imposed by statute, and the State of New Jersey shall be bound by all of the obligations assumed by it under such supplemental compact or agreement, and the Governor shall transmit an original signed copy thereof to the Secretary of State for filing in his office. L. 1985, c. 342, s. 2, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-19 Congressional consent

The Governor is authorized to apply, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, to the Congress of the United States for its consent and approval to such supplemental compact or agreement. L. 1985, c. 342, s. 3, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-20 Easton - Phillipsburg bridge

Notwithstanding the authority granted to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission in its compact to construct bridges across the Delaware river, the Commissioner of Transportation in cooperation with the Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Department of Transportation is authorized to construct as part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways a bridge across the Delaware river in the vicinity of Easton, Pennsylvania and Phillipsburg, New Jersey within 10 miles of the existing toll bridge owned and operated by the commission. The Commissioner of Transportation is further authorized to enter into an agreement with the Department of Transportation of Pennsylvania, the United States Department of Transportation and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission providing for the operation and maintenance or the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed Easton-Phillipsburg bridge by the commission. The provisions of the commission's compact, and all amendments and supplements thereto, shall be applicable to the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge facility, except as otherwise provided for by federal law or in the agreement between the parties. L. 1985, c. 342, s. 4, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-21 Financial assistance

The states, at their discretion, shall have authority to provide funds to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission for major capital improvements to or the replacement of the commission's non-toll bridges or for such other financial assistance as may be requested. L. 1985, c. 342, s. 5, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-22 Powers of commission

For the purposes of the location, construction, management, operation, maintenance, betterment or replacement of any bridges now existing or to be constructed within its jurisdiction and control, the commission is granted the power and authority to enter upon, use, overpass, occupy, enlarge, construct, improve or close any easement, street, road or highway located within the limits of, or to use, occupy or take property, now or hereafter vested in or held by any county or municipality. L. 1985, c. 342, s. 6, eff. Oct. 21, 1985, operative Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-23 Toll authorization required

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, with regard to any existing bridge within the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission's jurisdiction and control on which tolls were not charged or collected in 1984 and which was financed in part with federal funds, the commission may in the same manner and to the same extent that it can do so for all toll bridges under its jurisdiction and control fix, charge and collect fees, rentals, tolls or any other charges on such existing bridge only if authorized to do so by substantially similar laws enacted by the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. L. 1985, c. 343, s. 1, eff. Oct. 21, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-24 Findings, declarations

1. a. The Legislature hereby finds that the public's awareness of and participation in governmental actions is essential to maintaining a free society; that the more open a government is with its citizens, the greater the understanding and participation of the public in government; that the public's fundamental right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the reasons for those decisions is thwarted when the public's access to governmental meetings is blocked; and that government and the agencies created thereby must insure that their actions remain fully accountable to the public. b. The Legislature declares that for these public policy reasons the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission shall develop rules and regulations concerning the right of the public and members of the news media to be present at meetings of the commission as herein provided. L.1994,c.178,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-25 Definitions

2. As used in this act: "Board" means the Board of Commissioners of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; "Commission" means the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission; "Meeting" means any gathering, whether corporeal or by means of communications equipment, which is attended by, or open to, the board, held with the intent, on the part of the board members present, to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business of the commission. "Meeting" does not mean a gathering: (1) attended by less than an effective majority of the commissioners; or (2) attended by or open to all the members of three or more similar public bodies at a convention or similar gathering; "News media" means major wire services, television news services, radio news services and newspapers, whether located in this State or in any other state, and personnel representing any such service. "Public business" means matters which relate in any way, directly or indirectly, to the performance of the functions of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission or the conduct of its business. L.1994,c.178,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-26 Public meetings; notice

3. a. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of any general or special law, all meetings of the commission are declared to be public meetings and shall be open to the public and members of the news media, individually and collectively, for the purpose of observing the full details of all phases of the deliberation, policy-making and decision-making of the board to the extent that meetings and deliberations are open to the public under the "Open Public Meetings Act," P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-6 et seq.) and the "Sunshine Act," number 84 of the laws of Pennsylvania of 1986. b. The board shall adopt, within six months of the effective date of this act, appropriate rules and regulations concerning proper notice to the public and the news media of its meetings and the right of the public and the news media to be present at its meetings. The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall provide for the same notice and right of the public and news media to be present as well as any other rights and duties provided in the "Open Public Meetings Act," P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-6 et seq.) and the "Sunshine Act," number 84 of the laws of Pennsylvania of 1986. To the extent that these laws conflict, the commission shall incorporate into the rules and regulations the provisions of that law which provides for the greatest rights to the public and the news media. L.1994,c.178,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-27 Minutes; public meeting information officer, appointed

4. a. It shall be the duty of the board to insure that true and accurate minutes are kept of board meetings and that such minutes are promptly made available to the members of the public and the news media. b. The board shall appoint a public meeting information officer who shall be responsible for responding to requests from the public and the news media for information concerning the scheduling, attendance and minutes of board meetings. L.1994,c.178,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-28 Rules, regulations in minutes

5. Any rules or regulations adopted pursuant to section 3 of this act shall become a part of the minutes of the commission and shall be subject to the approval of the Governor of New Jersey and the Governor of Pennsylvania if the approval of the minutes shall be provided for by the law of either state. L.1994,c.178,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-29 Appeals

6. Any person denied any right granted by sections 3 or 4 of this act may appeal the denial to the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or any court of competent jurisdiction within one year of the date that the cause of action arises. L.1994,c.178,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 32:8-30 Violations; removal from office

7. Any official or employee of the commission who willfully engages in a continuous and repetitive pattern of violating the provisions of this act shall be subject to removal from office or employment. L.1994,c.178,s.7.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026