Bill Text: NJ SCR44 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposes constitutional amendment granting certain senior citizens exemption from payment of school property taxes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [SCR44 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-SCR44-Introduced.html

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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 44

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  GERALD CARDINALE

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes constitutional amendment granting certain senior citizens exemption from payment of school property taxes.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section I, of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph 8 thereto.

 

     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 1 by the addition of new paragraph 8 to read as follows:

     8.  The Legislature shall enact a law granting an annual exemption from the payment of property taxes levied for school purposes to any person who is a citizen and resident of this State of the age of 65 or more years, who owns and occupies a dwelling house, condominium, or mobile or manufactured home, which is owed by that person in fee simple, or in a cooperative or mutual housing corporation where the person is a stockholder therein, that is the person's principal residence.  Such a person shall have owned and occupied their principal residence in this State for at least 10 consecutive years in order to receive this exemption.

     The law shall extend this exemption to the surviving spouse of such a person who was receiving this exemption on the date of his or her death, as long as the surviving spouse is at least 65 years of age, remains unmarried, continues to own and occupy the same primary residence, and meets the 10 consecutive year occupancy requirement with respect to that primary residence.

     The law may require that a person, or surviving spouse, shall have an annual income that does not exceed an amount established in law by the Legislature.

 

     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 GIVE SENIOR CITIZEN HOMEOWNERS AN EXEMPTION FROM PAYING SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to give some senior citizens an exemption from paying property taxes raised for school purposes?  The law could limit which senior citizens receive this benefit.
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This amendment would give some senior citizens an exemption from paying property taxes for school purposes.      A senior citizen must be at least 65 years of age.  A senior citizen must also own and occupy their home for at least 10 consecutive years.  Their home must be their primary residence.  The same requirements would apply to the unmarried surviving spouse of a senior citizen.      These senior citizens and surviving spouses may have to meet an income limit.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to grant a partial property tax exemption to certain senior citizens.

     If approved by the voters of this State, this concurrent resolution would authorize the Legislature to enact laws granting an annual exemption from the payment of property taxes levied for school purposes to any person who is a citizen and resident of this State of the age of 65 or more years, who owns and resides in a dwelling house, condominium, or mobile or manufactured home, which is owed by that person in fee simple, or in a cooperative or mutual housing corporation where the person is a stockholder therein, that is the person's principal residence.  A person must have owned and occupied their principal residence in this State for at least 10 consecutive years in order to receive this exemption.

     The surviving spouse of a person who was receiving this exemption on the date of his or her death would be eligible to receive the exemption, as long as the surviving spouse is at least 65 years of age, remains unmarried, continues to own and occupy the same primary residence, and meets the 10 consecutive year occupancy requirement with respect to that primary residence.

     The Legislature could require that such a person, or surviving spouse, must meet an income eligibility requirement in order to receive the exemption.