Bill Text: NJ ACR173 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Assembly Concurrent Resolution 173 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Reduces minimum required age to 18 years old to be member of NJ Legislature.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-07 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR173 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-ACR173-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 173

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED APRIL 7, 2016

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

Reduces minimum required age to 18 years old to be member of NJ Legislature.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article IV, Section I, paragraph 2 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 amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Article IV, Section I, paragraph 2 to read as follows:

2. No person shall be a member of the Senate who shall not have attained the age of [thirty] eighteen years, and have been a citizen and resident of the State for four years, and of the district for which he shall be elected one year, next before his election. No person shall be a member of the General Assembly who shall not have attained the age of [twenty-one] eighteen years and have been a citizen and resident of the State for two years, and of the district for which he shall be elected one year, next before his election. No person shall be eligible for membership in the Legislature unless he be entitled to the right of suffrage.

(cf: Art. IV, Sec. I, para. 2, amended effective December 8, 1966)

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 REDUCE THE MINIMUM AGE REQUIRED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE
YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to allow persons who are at least 18 years of age serve in the New Jersey Legislature? Currently, a person must be at least 30 years old to serve in the Senate and at least 21 years old to serve in the General Assembly.
	INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
NO	The New Jersey Legislature consists of the Senate and General Assembly. Currently, a person must be at least 30 years old to be a member of the Senate and at least 21 years old to be a member of the General Assembly. A "yes" vote would reduce to 18 years the age requirement to be a member of the Senate or the General Assembly.
	A "no" vote would leave the age requirements unchanged.

This constitutional amendment shall, if approved, take effect on January 1, next following the general election at which it was approved.

STATEMENT

The New Jersey Legislature is made up of the Senate and General Assembly. Currently, a person is required to be at least 30 years old to be a member of the Senate and at least 21 years old to be a member of the General Assembly. This amendment would reduce the age requirement to 18 years old for a member of either the Senate or General Assembly.