§ 18A:18A-6 — Standards for purchase of fresh milk; penalties; rules and regulations

In purchases of fresh milk and as a condition thereof, the board of education shall require each vendor to agree in writing to purchase during the year in which he proposes to furnish such milk to the school district an amount of fresh milk from New Jersey producers or associations of producers at least equal to the amount he proposes to furnish to the school district plus an amount equal to the amount, if any, he shall be required to furnish to any other school district in the State. Every such agreement shall be filed by the board of education with the Secretary of Agriculture who shall be charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this section. Failure by any vendor to purchase milk in compliance with his agreement shall subject him to a penalty of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 per day for each day of noncompliance, unless he can prove to the satisfaction of the Secretary that he is unable to obtain sufficient milk from New Jersey producers or associations of producers to enable him to comply with his agreement. In the absence of such proof, the penalties herein provided for shall be enforced and collected by the Secretary of Agriculture in the name of the respective school district in a summary proceeding in accordance with the Penalty Enforcement Law (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). The penalty, when recovered, shall be paid to the school district so named in the proceeding. Any vendor found guilty of violating his agreement shall be ineligible for any contract award under this section for a period of 3 years thereafter. The Secretary of Agriculture shall adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as shall be necessary for the proper operation and enforcement of this section. L.1977, c. 114, s. 1, eff. June 2, 1977.