New Jersey-2024-ACR49-Introduced

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

Proposes amendment to Constitution to provide that State aid to school districts will be allocated on equal per pupil basis.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

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

1. The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years. In providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools, the Legislature shall enact laws prescribing that State funding payable to school districts, other than funding for special education, shall be on an equal per pupil basis. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring a minimum amount, or establishing a maximum amount, of funding to be provided by the State, or requiring that the State provide funding based on the amount of funding provided in a prior year.

(cf: Art. VIII, Sec. I, par. 1)

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 PROVIDE STATE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON EQUAL PER PUPIL BASIS
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to change the way that the State funds public schools? Do you approve amending the Constitution to require that State funding to school districts, other than special education funding, be on an equal per pupil basis?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This amendment to the Constitution changes how the State provides funding for public schools. The amendment would require that any State funding provided to school districts be provided on an equal per pupil basis. This requirement would not apply to special education funding. Currently, State aid per pupil varies significantly among school districts. The amendment specifies that the State would not be required to provide a minimum, nor does it establish a maximum, amount of funding to school districts.

STATEMENT

This Assembly Concurrent Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to specify that State aid payable directly to school districts, other than funding for special education, would be provided on an equal per pupil basis. The amendment also specifies that the State would not be required to provide a minimum, nor does it establish a maximum, amount of funding to school districts.