Bill Text: NJ ACR76 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate tax revenue from legal sale of recreational marijuana for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR76 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-ACR76-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 76

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  ERIK PETERSON

District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)

Assemblyman  JOHN DIMAIO

District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate tax revenue from legal sale of recreational marijuana for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section 1 of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph 8.

 

     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 VIII, Section 1 to include the following new paragraph:

     8.    There shall be set aside from the State revenue an amount equal to that collected from the annual revenue derived from a tax imposed on the legal sale of recreational marijuana under the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.), or any other subsequent law of similar effect.  The amount annually derived from the collection of taxes pursuant to this paragraph shall be credited annually to a special account in the general fund, and shall be dedicated, and appropriated from time to time by the Legislature, exclusively for the purposes of mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

 

     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 REQUIRE SALES TAX IMPOSED ON LEGAL SALE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA TO BE USED FOR MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION RECOVERY AND DRUG REHABILITATION SERVICES
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to use the sales tax raised from the legal sale of recreational marijuana for certain purposes.  The monies from the sales tax would be used only for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This proposed amendment would require the State to use sales tax revenue from the legal sale of recreational marijuana only for certain purposes.  Those purposes are mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.  The monies could not be used for any other purpose.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters of this State, would require the State to dedicate sales tax revenue from the legal sale of recreational marijuana every year. This money could only be used for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services and could not be spent for any other purpose through the State budget.