Bill Text: NJ A1238 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Limits number of bills member of Legislature may introduce; requires every bill to be heard in committee; requires estimate be prepared of cost of drafting and considering each bill.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A1238 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A1238-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Clifton
SYNOPSIS
Limits number of bills member of Legislature may introduce; requires every bill to be heard in committee; requires estimate be prepared of cost of drafting and considering each bill.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the introduction of bills and resolutions in the Legislature and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A member of the Senate shall not introduce, as prime sponsor or first prime sponsor, more than 25 bills or resolutions during any two-year legislative term and a member of the General Assembly shall not introduce, as prime sponsor or first prime sponsor, more than 15 bills or resolutions during any two-year legislative term, including any bills or resolutions that have been pre-filed for introduction in that term pursuant to the Joint Rules of the Senate and General Assembly. Any bill or resolution that is withdrawn by the member or that becomes law may be replaced by another bill or resolution. Any bill that proposes enactment of an annual appropriations law shall not be counted toward the bill limit of the prime sponsor thereof. A bill or resolution introduced in either house that is identical to a bill or resolution that has already passed the other house shall not be counted toward the bill limit of the prime sponsor thereof.
b. Every bill or resolution introduced in either house of the Legislature shall be referred to a standing reference committee in the house of introduction and shall be heard at a public meeting of that committee during the two-year legislative term.
c. Not later than the 30th day following the end of each two-year legislative term, the Office of Legislative Services shall prepare for each bill and resolution introduced during that term an estimate of the total cost of drafting, processing, and considering that bill or resolution. These estimates shall be compiled in a single document that shall be made available to each member and to the public.
As used in this subsection, "total cost" shall include, but not be limited to: the cost of materials and printing; a pro rata share of the time of employees of the office and the time of members of the Legislature; and the use of equipment and facilities.
2. This act shall take effect at the beginning of the two-year legislative term next following enactment, except that the Office of Legislative Services shall take such anticipatory administrative actions in advance as may be necessary for the act's implementation.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a member of the Senate may not introduce, as prime sponsor or first prime sponsor, more than 25 bills or resolutions during a two-year term of the Legislature and a member of the General Assembly may not introduce, as prime sponsor or first prime sponsor, more than 15 bills or resolutions during any two-year legislative term. Any bill that proposes enactment of an annual appropriations law will not be counted toward the bill limit of the prime sponsor thereof. A bill or resolution introduced in either house that is identical to a bill or resolution that has already passed the other house will not be counted toward the bill limit of the prime sponsor thereof.
It also provides that every bill or resolution introduced in either house of the Legislature must be referred to a standing reference committee in the house of introduction and must be heard at a public meeting of that committee during the two-year legislative term. In addition, the bill requires that, prior to the 30th day following the end of each two-year legislative term, the Office of Legislative Services must prepare for each bill and resolution introduced during that term an estimate of the total cost of drafting, processing, and considering that bill or resolution. These estimates will be compiled in a single document that will be made available to each member and to the public.
