Bill Text: NJ ACR98 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [ACR98 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-ACR98-Introduced.html

---

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 98

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex and Union)

Assemblyman  HERB CONAWAY, JR.

District 7 (Burlington)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Rumpf

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Legislature to extend civil service hiring preference to veterans who did not serve in time of war.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VII, Section I, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution.

 

     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 hereby agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     Amend Article VII, Section I, paragraph 2 to read as follows:

     2.    Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the State, and of such political subdivisions as may be provided by law, shall be made according to merit and fitness to be ascertained, as far as practicable, by examination, which, as far as practicable, shall be competitive; except that preference in appointments by reason of active service in any branch of the military or naval forces of the United States [in time of war] may be provided by law.

(cf: Art. VII, Sec. I, par. 2)

 

     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 BROADEN THE CIVIL SERVICE HIRING PREFERENCE TO VETERANS WHO DID NOT SERVE IN WAR
YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to broaden the hiring preference that is given to veterans who apply for civil service positions?  The Legislature could vote to broaden the preference to include veterans who did not serve in time of war.  Presently, only veterans who did serve in time of war are given the hiring preference.
	INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
NO	This amendment would allow the Legislature to grant a veteran who did not serve in time of war a hiring preference for a civil service position.      Presently, the hiring preference for a civil service position is given by law only to a veteran who served in time of war.  The preference is also given by law to a spouse or parent of an eligible veteran in certain cases.  The amendment would allow the Legislature to pass a law granting a civil service hiring preference to a veteran who did not serve in time of war.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact a law to extend the preference given to veterans for hiring for civil service positions.  The law would determine the eligibility of veterans for the purpose of hiring preferences for civil service positions.

     Currently, only veterans who served in time of war receive a hiring preference when applying for civil service positions.  This amendment would allow veterans who did not serve in time of war also to receive a hiring preference for civil service positions.