Bill Text: NJ ACR134 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends Constitution to limit number of years members of the Legislature and local elected public officials may serve.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR134 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-ACR134-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 134

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  REED GUSCIORA

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Amends Constitution to limit number of years members of the Legislature and local elected public officials may serve.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article IV, Section II, paragraphs 2 and 4 and Article VII, Section I of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

 

     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 hereby agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     a.     Amend Article IV, Section II, paragraphs 2 and 4 to read as follows:

     2.    Each senator shall be elected by the legally qualified voters of the Senate district, except that if the Senate district is composed of two or more counties and two senators are apportioned to the district, one senator shall be elected by the legally qualified voters of each Assembly district. Each senator shall be elected for a term beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January next following [his] the senator's election and ending at noon of the second Tuesday in January four years thereafter, except that each senator, to be elected for a term beginning in January of the second year following the year in which a decennial census of the United States is taken, shall be elected for a term of two years.

     A member of the Senate shall not be eligible to serve more than 10 years in the Senate, except that a member who is serving a term at the end of the 10th year shall be allowed to complete that term.  Service for one year or more to fill an unexpired term of office shall be included in the limitation imposed herein.

(cf: Art. IV, Sec. II, par. 2; amended effective December 8, 1966)

 

     4.    Two members of the General Assembly shall be elected by the legally qualified voters of each Assembly district for terms beginning at noon of the second Tuesday in January next following their election and ending at noon of the second Tuesday in January two years thereafter.

     A member of the General Assembly shall not be eligible to serve more than 10 years in the General Assembly, except that a member who is serving a term at the end of the 10th year shall be allowed to complete that term.  Service for one year or more to fill an unexpired term of office shall be included in the limitation imposed herein.

(cf: Art. IV, Sec. II, par. 4; amended effective December 8, 1966)

     b.    Amend Article VII, Section I by adding a new paragraph 7 to read as follows:

     7.    An elected public official in a political subdivision of this State shall not be eligible to serve more than 10 years in the same elective public office, except that an official who is serving a term at the end of the 10th year shall be allowed to complete that term.  Service for one year or more to fill an unexpired term of office shall be included in the limitation imposed herein. 

 

     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 LIMIT THE NUMBER OF YEARS IN OFFICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND LOCAL ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to limit to 10 the number of years a State legislator or a local elected public official may serve in that office?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This constitutional amendment limits to 10 the number of years that a member of the State Legislature or a local elected public official can serve in the same office.  However, if the 10th year occurs during a term of office, the legislator or local official will be allowed to complete that term.  The 10-year limit will apply beginning with the first election for each public office that occurs after this amendment takes effect.

 

SCHEDULE

 

     The limitation on the number of years a member of the Senate or the General Assembly or an elected public official in a political subdivision may serve, established by this constitutional amendment, shall be prospective in application beginning with the first election held for each respective public office next succeeding the effective date of this constitutional amendment. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to limit the number of years that a member of the Legislature or a local elected public official may serve.

     A member of the Senate or General Assembly, or a local elected public official, would not be eligible to serve more than 10 years in office.  However, such a member or official who is serving a term at the end of the 10th year is allowed to complete that term.  Service for one year or more to fill an unexpired term of office is included in the limitation imposed by this amendment. 

     The limitation on the number of years of service established by this constitutional amendment for members of the Legislature and local public officials would be prospective in application, beginning with the first election held for each respective public office next succeeding the amendment's effective date.  Therefore, the number of years that current members or public officials have served at the time the amendment takes effect would not be counted toward the 10 year limitation.  Rather, the 10 year limitation on elective office would apply to members or officials currently serving, and to newly elected members or officials, beginning with the first election for the elective public office to occur after the amendment takes effect.

     This constitutional amendment would not affect the term of office of the Governor.