Bill Text: NJ SCR40 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends Constitution to dedicate revenues realized from State's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to electric vehicle, clean energy, and greenhouse gas reduction programs.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-22 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [SCR40 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-SCR40-Introduced.html

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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 40

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  BOB SMITH

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Amends Constitution to dedicate revenues realized from State's participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to electric vehicle, clean energy, and greenhouse gas reduction programs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article V, Section IV of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     Amend Article V, Section IV by adding a new paragraph 7 to read as follows:

     7.    (a) The first $300,000,000 in revenue realized by the State from participation in the interstate cooperative effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the governors of several states on December 20, 2005, shall be dedicated, and shall be appropriated from time to time by the Legislature, only to fund programs related to electric vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure.  Programs to be funded by this dedicated amount shall include:  providing rebates to purchasers of electric vehicles; providing funding, including loans or grants, for electric vehicle infrastructure; providing funding to assist local government units with costs incurred to revise municipal or county master plans to include public electric vehicle infrastructure; and other initiatives specifically designed to stimulate the purchase and use of electric vehicles in the State.

     Any additional revenue after the first $300,000,000 realized by the State from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative shall be dedicated solely to fund programs, as enumerated in P.L.2007, c.340, to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy demand reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, and forest stewardship.

     (b) It shall not be competent for the Legislature, under any pretense whatever, to borrow, appropriate, or use the amount dedicated pursuant to this paragraph, or any portion thereof, for any purpose or in any manner other than as enumerated in this paragraph.

 

     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 DEDICATE MONEYS COLLECTED FROM REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE FOR CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, CLEAN ENERGY, AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PROGRAMS
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to dedicate the first $300 million received from the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative" to electric vehicle programs?   Any additional money would have to be used for clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction programs.

 

		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This constitutional amendment would dedicate the first $300 million received by the State from being in the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative," commonly known as "RGGI."  The money would be used for electric vehicle programs.  These programs include:  rebates to buyers of electric vehicles; funding for electric vehicle infrastructure; helping towns and counties revise their master plans to include public electric vehicle infrastructure; and other activities to promote the purchase and use of electric vehicles in the State.      RGGI is a joint effort of several northeastern states to reduce the release of carbon dioxide from power plants.  Carbon dioxide is a type of greenhouse gas.  Too much carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere is thought to affect climate.     Any additional monies received by the State from being in RGGI would be used to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy demand reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, and forest stewardship.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would dedicate any revenues realized from the State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to programs related to electric vehicles and clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction programs.  Specifically, this proposed constitutional amendment would dedicate the first $300 million of any revenue realized by the State from participation in RGGI solely for programs related to electric vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure.  Programs to be funded by this dedicated amount would include:  rebates to purchasers of electric vehicles; funding, including loans or grants, for electric vehicle infrastructure; funding to assist local government units with costs incurred to revise municipal or county master plans to include public electric vehicle infrastructure; and other initiatives specifically designed to stimulate the purchase and use of electric vehicles in the State.

     Any additional revenue beyond the first $300 million received by the State would be dedicated to fund programs, as enumerated in P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et seq.), to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy demand reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, and forest stewardship. 

     RGGI is a cooperative effort of several northeastern states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  New Jersey participated in RGGI from its inception in December 2005 until the State withdrew from the agreement in December 2011.  Current law, P.L.2007, c.340, authorizes, but does not mandate, the State's participation in RGGI.  P.L.2007, c.340 also sets forth a framework and various requirements for a greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading program through which the State's participation in RGGI may be implemented.