N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:23A-5.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 6A:23A-5.1 - Order to show cause to withhold or recover State aid due to excessive, unreasonable, ineffective, or inefficient expenditures

(a) If the Department identifies ineffective or inefficient expenditure(s) by a school district or CVSD, including, but not limited to, the practices prohibited in N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.2 through 5.9, the Commissioner shall provide, except as otherwise provided in (h) below, the school district or CVSD the opportunity to be heard as to why the amount of the ineffective or inefficient expenditure(s) shall not be withheld from State aid or refunded to the Department.

(b) The proceeding shall be instituted by an order to show cause filed by the petitioner. The filing shall include a statement of factual findings along with a letter memorandum setting forth the basis for the position that the expenditure(s) was ineffective or inefficient.

(c) The respondent(s) to whom the order is directed shall file, within 15 days, a response to the letter memorandum and an answer that meets the filing, service, and format requirements for answers as set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:3, Controversies and Disputes.

(d) The petitioner may file a reply to the response within 10 days.

(e) Upon review of the filings, the Commissioner may decide to hear the matter directly pursuant to 52:14F-8 or refer the matter to the Office of Administrative Law. If the Commissioner decides to transmit the matter to the Office of Administrative Law, such transmission shall be done on an expedited basis.

(f) If the Commissioner is hearing the matter directly, upon receipt of the filings set forth above or upon expiration of the time for their submission, the Commissioner shall review the total record before him or her and render a written decision.

(g) The Commissioner's decision shall include a determination of whether the expenditure was ineffective or inefficient and, if so, the amount of funds to be withheld from State aid or refunded by the school district.

(h) Nothing shall preclude the Commissioner from immediately and summarily withholding State aid, consistent with N.J.S.A. 18A:55-2, if, at any time, it is determined the fiscal practices, actions, or expenditures of a school official, district board of education member, district board of education, or any other party under the Commissioner's jurisdiction are in violation of any statute, regulation, rule, or directive of the State Board of Education or Commissioner.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:23A-5.1

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 1038(a), effective 5/1/2017