Bill Text: NJ SCR132 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends State Constitution to create joint legislative and executive branch New Jersey Revenue Certification Board to provide consensus certification of revenues for State budget purposes.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-07-30 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [SCR132 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SCR132-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Amends State Constitution to create joint legislative and executive branch New Jersey Revenue Certification Board to provide consensus certification of revenues for State budget purposes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is hereby agreed to:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Amend Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 to read:
2. a. No money shall be drawn from the State treasury but for appropriations made by law. All moneys for the support of the State government and for all other State purposes as far as can be ascertained or reasonably foreseen, shall be provided for in one general appropriation law covering one and the same fiscal year; except that when a change in the fiscal year is made, necessary provision may be made to effect the transition. No general appropriation law or other law appropriating money for any State purpose shall be enacted if the appropriation contained therein, together with all prior appropriations made for the same fiscal period, shall exceed the total amount of revenue on hand and anticipated which will be available to meet such appropriations during such fiscal period, as certified by the [Governor] New Jersey Revenue Certification Board.
b. There is established the New Jersey Revenue Certification Board, which shall consist of three members as follows: the State Treasurer, ex officio, or its successor in the executive branch of State government, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, ex officio, or its successor in the legislative branch of State government, and a third public member who shall be jointly selected thereby. The public member shall serve for a term of four years and shall hold minimum qualifications established by law. A vacancy in the public member position of the group shall be filled by the joint selection of the other members. The New Jersey Revenue Certification Board shall provide a consensus certification of State revenues on hand and anticipated to be received by the State during the present and next commencing State fiscal years to support annual State appropriations. The New Jersey Revenue Certification Board shall convene one or more public hearings at the place or places it designates during the second quarter of each State fiscal year. The board shall receive public testimony and may invite other participants who, in the judgment of the board, may provide guidance on the current conditions in, and probable outlook for, the performance of the economy of the State, as well as the effect of such conditions and such performance on State revenues.
(cf: Art.VIII, Sec.II, par.2, effective January 1, 1948)
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:
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CREATES NEW JERSEY REVENUE CERTIFICATION BOARD TO CERTIFY REVENUE FOR STATE BUDGET PURPOSES |
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YES |
Do you approve amending the State Constitution to create a New Jersey Revenue Certification Board? The board would certify the amount of revenue on hand and anticipated for the current and upcoming State fiscal years. The revenue for the upcoming fiscal year would have to be equal to or greater than the amount of proposed spending for the State to adopt a budget. |
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INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT |
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NO |
This amendment creates a New Jersey Revenue Certification Board. The board would have three members: one from the executive branch of government; one from the legislative branch of government; and one public member selected by the other two members. The board would certify the amount of revenue on hand and anticipated for the current and upcoming State fiscal years. The revenue certified by the board for the upcoming fiscal year would have to be equal to or greater than the amount of proposed spending for the State to adopt a budget. Currently, the governor alone certifies the amount of revenue on hand and anticipated for the current and upcoming State fiscal years. |
SCHEDULE
This constitutional amendment shall take effect and shall apply to the next State fiscal year following voter approval of this amendment.
STATEMENT
This constitutional amendment creates a New Jersey Revenue Certification Board. The board consists of three members: the State Treasurer, or its successor in the executive branch of State government, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, or its successor in the legislative branch of State government, and a third public member selected by the other two members. The public member serves for a term of four years and is required to have certain qualifications set forth by law.
The New Jersey Revenue Certification Board will provide a consensus certification of State revenues on hand and anticipated to be received by the State during the present and next commencing State fiscal years to support annual State appropriations. The amendment requires the New Jersey Revenue Certification Board to convene one or more public hearings at the place or places it designates during the second quarter of each State fiscal year, at which the board will receive public testimony.
The revenue certified by the board for the upcoming State fiscal year would be required to be equal to or greater than the amount of proposed spending for the upcoming State fiscal year in order for the State to adopt an annual appropriations act. Currently, the governor alone certifies the amount of revenue on hand and anticipated for the current and upcoming State fiscal years.
