TRENTON – Senate lawmakers unanimously released a controversial bill from committee Thursday that proposes merging the state’s higher education institutions.
The legislation moved out of the Senate Higher Education Committee following hours of testimony and discussion from interested parties representing both sides of the Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University restructuring debate.
“I am going to move this bill out of committee,” said Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-31), chairwoman of the committee.
“More things will be answered on Monday,” she said, assuring opponents of the proposal that additional improvements will be made to the bill over the weekend.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Sens. Thomas Kean (R-21) and Nellie Pou (D-35).
“There are lots of questions still remaining,” said Pou, adding she agreed with moving the bill out of committee, but still hopes to have many of her unanswered questions on the legislation answered.
The bill advanced with an amendment that would ensure the University Hospital in Newark would maintain a nonprofit status. The amendment was added after concerns were raised that University Hospital would be left vulnerable after a merging of the two institutions.
Dozens of speakers – including educators, students, school officials and members of the universities’ governing boards – spoke to committee members, largely urging senators to hold off plans to push through a merger before a larger discussion could be held.
The Rutgers governing boards – the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors – cited a number of specific concerns over the merger plan, including whether it would pass muster if it were challenged in court.
The bill’s sponsors – Sens. Donald Norcross (D-5) and Joseph Vitale (D-19) – assured lawmakers hard numbers on the proposed cost of the merger would be released next week when the bill goes before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“Monday, we’re going to be diving into the budgetary matter,” said Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36), adding more work needs to be done on the proposal, but that it’s moving in the right direction.
“This process should continue,” he said.
