18. a. Prior to entering into a contract with a nonprofit corporation operating one or more hospitals in New Jersey to operate and manage or assist in the operation and management of University Hospital, the Department of Health and Senior Services shall review and approve all management contracts. Any management contract entered into by University Hospital shall be evaluated by the Department of Health and Senior Services based upon the following criteria:

(1) whether the hospital will continue its public mission and commitment to provide a comprehensive healthcare program and services to the greater Newark community, including acute care, and emergency and other essential services provided by the hospital;

(2) whether the cost of the management contract is fair and reasonable;

(3) whether the management contract provides for the full disclosure of all management and other fees;

(4) whether the management contract requires the hospital’s annual audited financial statements be filed with the Department of Health and Senior Services and posted on the hospital website;

(5) whether the management contract retains status of University Hospital employees as public employees within the meaning of subsection d. of section 3 of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-3); and

(6) whether the University Hospital Community Oversight Board has reviewed the terms of the agreement.

b. Due to the unique nature of an acute care management contract, a competitive contracting method shall be used for a contract to operate and manage or assist in the operation and management of University Hospital. Prior to entering into a contract with a nonprofit corporation to operate and manage or assist in the operation or management of University Hospital, University Hospital shall prepare a Request for Proposals describing with reasonable specificity the management services to be provided by a nonprofit corporation, and shall publish the Request for Proposals on its public Internet website no less than 30 days prior to the date established by University Hospital for the submission of proposals for any contract for management services.

c. No less than 60 days prior to the award of any contract for management services, a notice of the intent to award a contract to manage and operate or assist in the management and operation of University Hospital shall be published on the hospital’s public Internet website.

d. Any management contract entered into by University Hospital after the enactment date of this act shall retain the status of University Hospital bargaining unit employees as public employees within the meaning of subsection d. of section 3 of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-3). Employees of the nonprofit corporation awarded the contract to manage and operate University Hospital shall not be required to be public employees within the meaning of subsection d. of section 3 of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-3). Employees of the nonprofit corporation awarded the management contract shall not perform the duties of public employees represented by majority representatives employed by University Hospital prior to the effective date of the management contract, except to the extent that such duties are incidental to their management duties.

e. Any contract with a nonprofit corporation operating one or more hospitals in New Jersey to manage and operate or assist in the management or operation of University Hospital entered into after the enactment date of this act shall satisfy all conditions set forth in this section.

L.2012, c.45, s.18.