ACR19

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Section IV, paragraph 6 and Section VI, paragraph 1 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution is agreed to:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

a. 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; 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, other than a bill or joint resolution levying a State tax or providing for an increase in a State tax, unless there shall be a majority of all 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.

No bill or joint resolution levying a State tax or providing for an increase in a State tax shall pass, unless there be a three-fifths 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: Art. IV, Sect. IV, par. 6)

b. Amend Article IV, Section VI, paragraph 1 to read as follows:

1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the General Assembly; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills. However, a bill or joint resolution for raising revenue by levying a State tax or by providing for an increase in a State tax may not be amended by either body other than by a three-fifths majority of all the members of the proposing or concurring body personally present and agreeing thereto.

(cf: Art. IV, Sect. VI, par.1)

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 such final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Attorney General, not less than three months prior to said general election.

3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at said election in the following manner and form:

There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at such 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 STATE TAX BILLS REQUIRE PASSAGE BY THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY VOTE OF EACH HOUSE OF LEGISLATURE
	YES	Do you approve amending Section IV, paragraph 6 and Section VI, paragraph 1 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey to require that bills and joint resolutions levying a State tax or providing for an increase in a State tax be passed by or amended in the Legislature by a vote of three-fifths of the members of each House of the Legislature?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	The purpose of this constitutional amendment is to require that any bill or joint resolution levying a new State tax or proposing to increase an existing State tax shall be passed by the Legislature only by a three-fifths majority vote of the members of each House of the Legislature, instead of by a majority vote as with other bills or resolutions.

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional amendment shall, if approved, be applicable to bills and joint resolutions introduced during the legislative sessions commencing on or after noon on January 9, 2007.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that any bill or joint resolution levying a new State tax or proposing to increase an existing State tax shall be passed by the Legislature only by a three-fifths majority vote of the members of each House of the Legislature, instead of by a majority vote as with other bills and resolutions.