Bill Text: NJ S3125 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires Governor's resignation from office if Governor becomes candidate for President of the United States.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-08-10 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S3125 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-S3125-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 3125

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED AUGUST 10, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LORETTA WEINBERG

District 37 (Bergen)

Senator  RAYMOND J. LESNIAK

District 20 (Union)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires Governor's resignation from office if Governor becomes candidate for President of the United States.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act requiring the Governor's resignation from office if the Governor becomes a candidate for President of the United States and supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    If the Governor of this State files FEC Form 2, Statement of Candidacy Form, or any successor form, or a letter containing the same information as required by that form, with the Federal Elections Commission, pursuant to regulations of the commission, indicating thereon that the Governor seeks the office of President of the United States, the Governor shall resign as Governor not later than the date on which the form or letter is filed with the commission.

 

     2.    If, on the effective date of this act, the Governor of this State has already filed FEC Form 2, Statement of Candidacy, or any successor form, or a letter containing the same information as required by that form, with the Federal Elections Commission, pursuant to regulations of the commission, indicating thereon that the Governor seeks the office of President of the United States, the Governor shall resign as Governor within 10 calendar days of that effective date, except that the Governor shall not be required to resign if, during that 10-day period, the Governor withdraws as a candidate for President of the United States and informs the commission in writing that the candidacy has ceased.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides that if the Governor of this State files FEC Form 2, Statement of Candidacy, or any successor form, or a letter containing the same information as required by that form, with the Federal Elections Commission, pursuant to regulations of the commission, indicating thereon that the Governor seeks the office of President of the United States, the Governor will resign as Governor within 10 calendar days of the date on which the form or letter is filed with the commission. 

     The bill also provides that if on the bill's effective date the Governor has already filed that form or letter with the FEC, the Governor will resign as Governor within 10 calendar days of that effective date.  However, the Governor will not be required to resign as Governor if, during that 10 day period, the Governor withdraws as a candidate for President of the United States and informs the FEC in writing that the candidacy has ceased.

     FEC regulations require a candidate for federal elective office to file Form 2 with the commission within 15 days of becoming a candidate.

     The bill prevents this State from having to endure a Governor whose frequent absences from the State in pursuit of higher office makes the Governor inattentive to State issues and causes the State to bear the cost of security for out-of-State travel.