Bill Text: NJ ACR11 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 11 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment permitting Legislature to adopt statute allowing municipalities to enact ordinances authorizing property tax deduction for primary residence of volunteer firefighter or first aid squad member.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [ACR11 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-ACR11-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 11

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PETER J. BIONDI

District 16 (Morris and Somerset)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman McHose and Assemblyman Chiusano

SYNOPSIS

Proposes constitutional amendment permitting Legislature to adopt statute allowing municipalities to enact ordinances authorizing property tax deduction for primary residence of volunteer firefighter or first aid squad member.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

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

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 I by adding a new paragraph 8 to read as follows:

8. The Legislature may adopt a statute permitting municipalities to enact ordinances entitling a resident of this State and the municipality, who has been for the entire tax year an active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association, or an active, volunteer member of a part-paid fire department, incorporated pursuant to the laws of this State and serving one or more counties or municipalities in this State, to an annual deduction of $750 from a tax bill for taxes on residential real property owned and occupied by the resident as his primary residence.

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 AUTHORIZE PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR PRIMARY RESIDENCES OF VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER FIRST AID RESCUE SQUAD MEMBERS
	YES	Shall the amendment to Article VIII, Section I of the New Jersey Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, permitting the Legislature to adopt a statute that allows municipalities to enact ordinances authorizing a deduction of $750 annually from the taxes assessed against any residential real property owned by a resident of this State and the municipality and occupied by the resident as his principal residence, if the resident has served for the entire tax year as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer first aid or rescue squad member, be approved?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This proposed constitutional amendment permits the Legislature to pass a law under which municipalities may enact ordinances that will entitle residents of this State and the municipality who have served for the entire tax year as volunteer firefighters or volunteer first aid or rescue squad members to an annual deduction of $750 from the property taxes on their homes.

STATEMENT

This proposed constitutional amendment permits the Legislature to adopt a statute that will authorize municipalities to enact ordinances entitling a person who has served for the entire tax year as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer first aid or rescue squad member to an annual $750 deduction from a tax bill for taxes on real property owned and occupied by the resident as his primary residence.

By providing an incentive for residents of this State to volunteer as firefighters and first aid or rescue squad members, this proposed amendment will help to counteract the increasing difficulty
experienced by municipalities in attracting volunteers for these vital service organizations.