ACR39

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman PARKER SPACE

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Chiusano, Webber, DiMaio, Rible, Rudder and C.J.Brown

SYNOPSIS

Proposes constitutional amendment to provide that only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article I of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph.

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 I by adding a new paragraph 23 to read as follows:

23. Only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in the State of New Jersey.

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 PROVIDING THAT ONLY THE UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN SHALL BE VALID IN NEW JERSEY
	YES	Shall the proposed amendment of Article I of the Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, providing that only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid as a marriage in the State of New Jersey, be approved?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	Approval of this amendment would prohibit official recognition as a marriage of any union not between one man and one woman.

STATEMENT

The proposed constitutional amendment specifies that only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid as a marriage in the State of New Jersey. This amendment is not intended to affect any equal benefits or domestic partnership rights provided by law. The amendment is in response to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s opinion in Lewis v. Harris, 188 N.J. 415 (2006).