SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 119

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JANUARY 31, 2019

 

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 119.

     This bill requires candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States to submit their federal income tax returns to the Division of Elections in the Department of State for at least the five most recent taxable years for which the candidate has filed such a return with the Internal Revenue Service.  Under the bill, each candidate would also submit written consent to the division for the public disclosure of the income tax returns.  The bill requires a candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States to file the income tax returns and written consent for disclosure with the division no later than 50 days before the general election.  The division would then post the income tax returns on its Internet website no later than seven days after the candidate has filed the income tax returns with the division.  The bill requires the division, in consultation with the Attorney General, to redact any information contained in the income tax returns that the division deems necessary before the division posts the income tax returns on its website.  Additionally, the bill provides that an elector cannot vote for a candidate for President or Vice-President unless the candidate submits federal income tax returns to the division in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.