New Jersey-2016-SCR55-Introduced

A Concurrent Resolution to amend Article IV, Section I of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

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

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

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Article IV, Section I by the addition of a new paragraph 1A as follows:

1A. A constitutional convention for the limited purpose of reforming the system of property taxation in this State that is convened through voter approval at the general election held in November 2014, of a law authorizing such a convention shall have the authority to propose for voter approval at the general election held in November 2015, in addition to constitutional amendments, the amendment or repeal of existing statutes, or the enactment of new statutes, which are within the scope of the convention's mandate, by a date prescribed in that law and in the form of one or more public questions, provided that this amendment is approved by the voters not later than the general election at which the proposal prepared by the convention is submitted to the voters. Any such changes to the statutory law approved by the voters may thereafter be amended or repealed by the Legislature by law.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 (T) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are

opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (T) in the square opposite the word "No."

b. In every municipality the following question:

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE STATUTES
	YES	Do you approve a temporary amendment to the Constitution to allow a State constitutional convention to propose changes to the statutes to reform the system of property taxation? The proposed changes would need to be approved by the voters. The purpose of the constitutional convention would be to reform the current system of property taxation. The holding of the constitutional convention would need to be approved by the voters through a separate ballot question.
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This temporary amendment would allow a constitutional convention to propose changes to the statutes. Those proposed changes would need to be approved by the voters. The holding of the constitutional convention would need to be approved by the voters through a separate ballot question. The purpose of the constitutional convention would be to reform the current system of property taxation. The proposed changes to the statutes would have to be within the scope of the convention's purpose. Without this temporary amendment, the convention would be able to propose only amendments to the Constitution for approval by the voters. The convention may want also to propose changes to the statutes to implement its proposals. This temporary amendment must be approved by the voters by the time, or at the same time, the statutory changes proposed by the convention are presented to the voters for approval.

SCHEDULE

This constitutional amendment shall become part of the New Jersey Constitution upon approval by the voters and shall expire three years thereafter.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution proposes a temporary amendment to the New Jersey Constitution which would allow the property tax reform constitutional convention, to be convened pursuant to a separate ballot question, to propose revisions to the statutes which are within the scope of the convention's mandate. Without this amendment, the convention would only be able to submit proposed constitutional amendments for voter approval, but not proposed statutory changes that may be needed to help implement those amendments. This amendment would become part of the New Jersey Constitution upon approval by the voters and would expire three years after its approval by the voters. Statutory changes proposed by the convention will take effect upon voter approval if this temporary constitutional amendment authorizing the convention to propose such changes receives voter approval not later than the general election at which the proposal prepared by the convention is submitted to the voters.