ACR142

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution.

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

1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 2 to read as follows:

2. 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; and except that the Legislature may, by law, provide for a continuation of the general appropriation law in effect for the immediately prior fiscal year at a level that does not exceed the recurring expenditures thus authorized until the enactment of a new general appropriation law. 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.

(cf: Art.VIII, Sec.II, par.2)

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 Attorney General, 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 PERMIT, BY LAW, THE CONTINUATION OF STATE APPROPRIATIONS AFTER CLOSE OF FISCAL YEAR
	YES	Shall the proposed amendment of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, agreed to by the Legislature, providing that the Legislature may, by law, provide for a continuation of the general appropriation law in effect for the immediately prior fiscal year at a level that does not exceed the recurring expenditures thus authorized until the enactment of a new general appropriation law, be adopted?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This Constitutional amendment provides that after the close of a fiscal year, a law could be enacted to continue State appropriations at a level that does not exceed the recurring expenditures authorized in the recently-expired general appropriation law, known familiarly as the State budget, until the Legislature enacts a new general appropriation law. The purpose of this amendment is to permit the Legislature to avoid the shutdown of State government and the disruption of State services that a shutdown would cause if a State budget is not adopted by July 1, which is the start of the State’s fiscal year.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution proposes to amend the State Constitution to provide that after the close of a fiscal year, a law could be enacted to continue State appropriations at a level that does not exceed the recurring expenditures authorized in the recently-expired general appropriation law, known familiarly as the State budget, until the Legislature enacts a new general appropriation law.

The purpose of this amendment is to permit the Legislature to avoid the shutdown of State government and the disruption of State services that such a shutdown would cause, if a State budget is not adopted by July 1, which is the beginning of the State’s fiscal year.