SCR54

A Concurrent Resolution to amend Article IV, Section IV of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey by amending, paragraph 6 thereof.

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 IV, Section IV, paragraph 6 to read as follows:

6. All bills and joint resolutions shall be read three times in each house before final passage. No bill or joint resolution shall be read a third time in either house until after the intervention of one full calendar day following the day of the second reading except that the annual state appropriations bill shall not be read a third time in either house until after the intervention of seven full days, including Saturday and Sunday, following the day of the second reading; but if either house shall resolve by vote of three-fourths of all its members, signified by yeas and nays entered on the journal, that a bill or joint resolution is an emergency measure, it may proceed forthwith from second to third reading. No bill or joint resolution shall pass, unless there shall be a majority of all the members of each body personally present and agreeing thereto, and the yeas and nays of the members voting on such final passage shall be entered on the journal.

(cf: Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 6)

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 lease 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 (T) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (T) in the square opposite the word "No."

b. In every municipality the following question:

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REQUIRING THAT ANNUAL STATE APPROPRIATIONS BILL LAY OVER FOR SEVEN DAYS BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE, UNLESS PASSED BY THREE-FOURTHS MAJORITY VOTE
	YES	Shall the amendment to Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 6 agreed to by the Legislature, providing that the annual state appropriations bill shall not be read a third time in either house until after the intervention of seven full days, including Saturday and Sunday, following the day of the second reading, unless approved by a vote of three-fourths of the authorized members of either house be approved?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	Currently the Senate and the General Assembly may vote on the annual State appropriations bill when one full day has passed after the bill has been introduced into that house of the Legislature or released from one of its committees, as with any other bill. However, if three-fourths of the members of the house vote to allow it, the bill can be voted on immediately. This constitutional amendment requires seven full days, including Saturday and Sunday, to pass after introduction or committee action before a house of the Legislature may vote on the annual appropriations bill; this amendment continues to allow a house to vote on the appropriations bill immediately if three-fourths of the members of the house vote to allow it.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution which would provide that the annual state appropriations bill shall not be voted on in either house until after the intervention of seven full days, including Saturday and Sunday. Currently, the annual appropriations bill, like all other bills and joint resolutions, may be passed in either house after the intervention of only one full calendar day following the day of committee consideration or first introduction. And this amendment continues to allow a house to vote on the appropriations bill immediately if three-fourths of the members of the house vote to allow it.