Bill Text: NJ ACR133 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends State Constitution to require legislators to serve full-time; creates temporary commission to recommend compensation for full-time legislators.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR133 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-ACR133-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 133

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  REED GUSCIORA

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Amends State Constitution to require legislators to serve full time; creates temporary commission to recommend compensation for full-time legislators.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article IV, Section II and Article XI 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 amendments to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey are agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

 

     a.     Amend Article IV, Section II by adding a new paragraph 5 to read as follows:

     5.    Each member of the Senate and General Assembly who is elected for a term beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January of 2018 and thereafter shall devote full time to the duties of the office and shall not engage in any occupation, profession, or other gainful employment or position while holding such office.

     b.    Amend Article XI by adding a new Section VIII to read as follows:

     No law, provided for in Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 7, to fix the compensation for members of the Senate and General Assembly who are elected for terms beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January of 2018 shall be enacted until 30 days after a report containing recommendations for such compensation is completed by a special commission established for this purpose.  The special commission shall be composed of five members of the public, appointed by the Governor, who are persons notable for their significant professional accomplishments and contributions to the formulation of public policy involving governance by this State.  At the time of appointment, the Governor shall describe in writing the accomplishments and contributions that merit the appointment of each member.  No member appointed shall hold a public elective or appointive office, position or employment, and no more than three members shall be of the same political party.  The members shall appoint a chairperson, and a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.  The commission shall review the responsibilities and duties of a member of the Senate and General Assembly and the compensation provided to legislators in other states.  Within 60 days of its organizational meeting, the commission shall issue a written report containing its recommendations and submit that report to the Legislature and the Governor.  The commission shall expire upon the submission of its report.

 

     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 Attorney General, 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 REQUIRE LEGISLATORS TO SERVE FULL TIME AND TO CREATE A TEMPORARY COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THEIR COMPENSATION
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to require members of the New Jersey Legislature to serve full time, and to create a temporary commission to recommend their compensation?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This constitutional amendment requires members of the State Senate and General Assembly to work full time as legislators, beginning with the members who will take office in 2018.  The amendment prohibits these members from having any occupation, profession, or other gainful employment while serving as a legislator.  Finally, the amendment creates a temporary special commission to make a recommendation on the compensation to be paid to full time legislators.  The commission will have five public members whom the Governor will appoint.

 

STATEMENT

 

     This proposed amendment to the State Constitution requires members of the Senate and General Assembly to serve full time and prohibits them from engaging in any occupation, profession, or other gainful employment or position while holding such office. The first election for members of the Senate and General Assembly to serve as full-time members will be held at the general election in 2018, when members of both Houses are to be elected.

     In addition, the proposed amendment requires that, before any law can be enacted to fix the compensation for those full-time legislators taking office in 2018, a temporary special commission composed of five public members appointed by the Governor must convene and issue a report containing recommendations for that compensation.  The members of the commission must be persons notable for their significant professional accomplishments and contributions to the formulation of public policy involving governance by this State.  At the time of appointment, the Governor is to describe in writing the accomplishments and contributions that merit the appointment of each member.  The commission will review the nature of the work of a member of the Senate and General Assembly and the compensation provided to legislators in other states.  Within 60 days of its organizational meeting, the commission is to issue a written report containing its recommendations and submit that report to the Legislature and the Governor.