ASSEMBLY, No. 1262

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman RUSSO

An Act increasing the limit on spending in gubernatorial primary elections and amending P.L.1973, c.83.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 7 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-7) is amended to read as follows:

    7. The amount which may be spent in aid of the candidacy of any qualified candidate for Governor at any election shall not exceed in a primary election[$2,200,000] $3,500,000, and in a general election $5,000,000; but such sums shall not include the traveling expenses of the candidate or of any person other than the candidate if such traveling expenses are voluntarily paid by such person without any understanding or agreement with the candidate that they shall be, directly or indirectly, repaid to him by the candidate.

(cf: P.L.1989,c.4,s.2)

    2. (New section) The amount which may be spent in aid of the candidacy of a qualified candidate for Governor at a primary election established in section 7 of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-7), as amended by this act, P.L. , c. , shall be operative for the gubernatorial election to be held in 1997 and shall thereafter be the amount subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of subsection c. of section 19 of P.L.1980, c.74 (C.44A-7.1) as amended by section 3 of P.L.1989, c.4.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill increases the limit on spending imposed on a gubernatorial candidate in a primary election to $3,500,000 for the 1997 gubernatorial primary election. That limit in the 1993 gubernatorial primary election was $2,600,000 as a result of adjustments for inflation in campaign costs. The increase in the spending limit is intended to enhance competition in the primary election and to advance a level playing field among candidates.

    The bill also provides that this amount shall be the the basis for calculating the next inflation adjustment to determine the limit for the primary elections thereafter.

    This legislation would implement a May 18, 1994 recommendation of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Increases to $3,500,000 the limit on gubernatorial spending in 1997 primary election and establishes that amount as basis for future inflation adjustments.