5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a State monitor appointed pursuant to section 4 of this act shall:

a. oversee the fiscal management and expenditures of funds of the public institution of higher education including, but not limited to, budget reallocations and reductions, approvals of purchase orders, budget transfers, and payment of bills and claims;

b. oversee the operation and fiscal management of facilities, including developing and implementing recommendations for restructuring the institution offered by the governing board of a public institution of higher education;

c. ensure development and implementation of an acceptable plan to address the circumstances which resulted in the appointment of a State monitor pursuant to section 4 of this act that includes measurable benchmarks and specific activities to address the deficiencies of the institution;

d. oversee all staffing, including the ability to hire, promote, and terminate employees, as well as the ability to deny proposals by the administration of the institution to hire, promote, or terminate employees, except that all actions of the State monitor shall comply with the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” established pursuant to P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.), and any collective bargaining agreements entered into by the institution;

e. have authority to override any action by the president of the institution or a vote by the governing board of the institution on any of the matters set forth in this section except that all actions of the State monitor shall comply with the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” established pursuant to P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.), and any collective bargaining agreements entered into by the institution;

f. attend all meetings of the governing board of the institution, including closed sessions;

g. meet with the governing board of the institution at least quarterly to provide governing board members with education and training that address the deficiencies and actions leading to the appointment of a State monitor pursuant to section 4 of this act;

h. make recommendations to the Legislature, including any proposed legislation which the monitor may desire to recommend for enactment, for the systemic improvement of the institution’s fiscal condition, and which may include opportunities for efficiencies through:

(1) mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations;

(2) program reductions;

(3) sales of surplus property;

(4) shared services and joint purchasing;

(5) staff reductions;

(6) teacher sharing agreements; and

(7) any other proposals that the monitor believes would improve the fiscal efficiency of the institution; and

i. report directly to the secretary or the secretary’s designee.

L.2023, c.115, s.5.