Bill Text: NJ ACR119 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [ACR119 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-ACR119-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 119

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2024

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes constitutional amendment to make State trustee of public natural resources and guarantee to the people other environmental rights.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article I of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph.

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

     1.    The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     Amend Article I by adding a new paragraph 24 to read as follows:

     24.  (a) Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of the environment.  The State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction.

     (b)   The State's public natural resources, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all the people, including both present and future generations.  The State shall serve as trustee of these resources, and shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.

     (c)   This paragraph and the rights stated herein are (1) self-executing, and (2) shall be in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law.

 

     2.    When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

 

     3.    This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:

     There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

     a.     In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows:

     If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No."

     b.    In every municipality the following question:

 

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ENSURE THE PEOPLE'S ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment?  The amendment would also require the State to protect public natural resources.
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This amendment provides that every person has a constitutional right to a clean environment.  This includes the right to clean air, pure water, and healthy habitats.   The amendment would require the State to preserve public natural resources.  The State would also be required to prevent others from destroying or damaging public natural resources.

 

SCHEDULE

 

     This constitutional amendment shall become part of the Constitution on March 1 next following the general election at which it is approved by the voters.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources.

      Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment.  The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction.

      The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations.  The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.

      Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law.