Bill Text: NJ S96 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes public financing of primary election campaigns to fill gubernatorial vacancy and general election campaigns to fill vacancy in offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-04-04 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [S96 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S96-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator DIANE B. ALLEN
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes public financing of primary election campaigns to fill gubernatorial vacancy and general election campaigns to fill vacancy in offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning public financing of gubernatorial election campaigns and amending P.L.1974, c.26.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-27) is amended to read as follows:
2. It is hereby declared to be a compelling public interest and to be the policy of this State that primary election campaigns for the office of Governor and general election campaigns for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, including campaigns to fill a vacancy, shall be financed with public support pursuant to the provisions of this act. It is the intention of this act that such financing be adequate in amount so that candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor may conduct their campaigns free from improper influence and so that persons of limited financial means may seek election to the State's highest office.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.66, s.15)
2. Section 3 of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-28) is amended to read as follows:
3. The provisions of this act shall apply to the general election campaign for the office of Governor to be held in November, 1977 and to all subsequent primary election campaigns for the office of Governor and general election campaigns for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, except that the provisions of this act shall not apply to any primary election campaign for the office of Governor or general election campaign for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor for which the Legislature fails to make an appropriation.
For the purposes of P.L.1974, c.26 (C.19:44A-27 et seq.), "primary election campaigns for the office of Governor" and "general election campaigns for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor" shall be deemed to include primary election campaigns to fill a vacancy in the office of Governor and general election campaigns to fill a vacancy in the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.66, s.17)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current law, primary election candidates for the office of Governor and general election candidates for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor may agree to receive public funds to finance their campaigns. If agreeing to participate in the public financing program, such candidates must adhere to campaign contributions limits specified in the law and, among other requirements, participate in a series of public debates.
This bill provides that public financing under this program would also be available for primary election campaigns to fill a vacancy in the office of Governor and general election campaigns to fill a vacancy in the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
