ASSEMBLY, No. 1961

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

By Assemblyman JONES

An Act concerning statements of legislative intent adopted by the Legislature, and supplementing Title 1 of the Revised Statutes.

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

    1. A statement of legislative intent adopted by either House of the Legislature or a standing reference committee thereof during the process of enactment of a bill or measure in order to provide direction for the execution of that enactment by rule or regulation shall be considered to be a clear and unambiguous expression of legislative intent for regulatory purposes, unless the statement of legislative intent so adopted is manifestly inconsistent with the express language of the enactment.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides statutory direction for the use of statements of legislative intent adopted during the process of enacting a law in the execution of the law by rule or regulation. The bill provides that a statement of legislative intent so adopted shall be considered a clear and unambiguous expression of legislative intent unless it is manifestly inconsistent with the express language of the pertinent enactment.

    The purpose of the bill is to assist the Legislature in the effective exercise of its regulatory oversight powers under Article V, Section IV, paragraph 6, of the New Jersey Constitution. The bill is intended as a companion to a concurrent resolution proposing a joint rule to require statements of legislative intent to be provided when a bill is reported by committee or amended on the floor in either House.

Directs use of statements of legislative intent for regulatory purposes.