SENATE BILL NO. 2818
(First Reprint)
To the Senate:
Pursuant to Article V, Section I, Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I herewith return Senate Bill No. 2818 (First Reprint) with my recommendations for reconsideration.
Senate Bill No. 2818 (First Reprint) establishes the Working Group to Study Pricing of Motor Fuels by Retail Dealers. The working group is tasked with examining the practices of retail dealers in the pricing of motor fuels dispensed in this State, and evaluating how competition and market conditions impact pricing practices. The intent of the working group is to protect New Jersey residents and visitors from abusive practices in motor fuel pricing practices.
I applaud the bill’s sponsors for aiming to shield New Jersey residents and visitors from these predatory practices, and I commend the Department of Law and Public Safety (“LPS”) for their willingness to take on this laudable but intensive task.
The current language of this bill proscribes, with specificity, the individuals from the Division of Consumer Affairs (the “Division”), within the LPS, who shall comprise this nine-member working group. I am recommending modest revisions to this bill to give greater discretion to the Attorney General to appoint the appropriate individuals from the Division to the working group to ensure that the group has the necessary expertise to accomplish the bill’s goals. Additionally, I am suggesting amendments to allow for a longer period for the working group to complete its report so that the report includes the most comprehensive and relevant information for review by my Administration and the Legislature.
Therefore, I herewith return Senate Bill No. 2818 (First Reprint) and recommend that it be amended as follows:
Page 2, Section 1, Line 13: Delete “The development of a working group to monitor” and insert “A more robust understanding of”
Page 2, Section 1, Line 14: Delete “is intended to” and insert “will”
Page 2, Section 1, Line 15: Delete “from” and insert “by identifying legitimate retail pricing factors and practices, which may help to curtail or avoid”
Page 2, Section 3, Lines 26-27: Delete “consist of nine members to be appointed by the Attorney General. One shall”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 27: After “be” insert “chaired by”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 28: Delete “which is”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 29: Delete “who shall chair the working group; four”
Page 2, Section 3, Lines 30-31: Delete in their entirety
Page 2, Section 3, Line 32: Delete “Affairs; and four” and insert “and”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 32: Delete “be” and insert “include such members as may be designated by the Attorney General, including but not limited to”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 33: After “Measures” insert “in the Division of Consumer Affairs”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 34: Delete “members of the”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 34: Delete “appointed” and insert “organized and commence the performance of its duties pursuant to section 2 of P.L._____, c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill)”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 35: Delete “30” and insert “60”
Page 2, Section 3, Line 35: Delete “this bill” and insert “P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)”
Page 2, Section 3, Lines 36-38: Delete in their entirety
Page 2, Section 4, Line 40: Delete “at” and insert “no later than”
Page 2, Section 4, Line 41: Delete “third” and insert “sixth”
Page 2, Section 4, Line 41: Delete “appointments of the members” and insert “organization”
Page 3, Section 6, Line 2: Delete “this act,” and insert “P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill).”
Page 3, Section 6, Lines 3-5: Delete in their entirety
Respectfully,
[seal]
/s/ Philip D. Murphy
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Parimal Garg
Chief Counsel to the Governor