ACR76

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

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:

1. The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between the ages of five and 18 years. Maintenance and support shall be provided by the funding of a system of free public schools through a combination of State and local revenues. However, no local revenues shall be assessed or collected in order to fund the costs of providing regular education, except those local revenues necessary to satisfy the local share for capital outlay and maintenance purposes and the local share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students. The balance of funds necessary to maintain a thorough and efficient system of free public schools including the costs of providing regular education, the State share for capital outlay and maintenance purposes, and the State share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students shall be provided by the State from State revenues.

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 and the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at the 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 () in the square opposite the word "Yes."

If you are opposed thereto make a cross (x), plus (+) or check () in the square opposite the word "No."

		LIMIT ON USE OF LOCAL REVENUES FOR THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT EDUCATION
	YES	Do you approve of the amendment of Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, providing that the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools be provided through a combination of State and local revenues with local revenues used to fund only the local share for capital outlay and maintenance and the local share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students, and the balance of funds including the costs of providing regular education and the State share for capital outlay and maintenance and the State share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students, as shall be determined by law, be provided by the State from State revenues?

		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This constitutional amendment prescribes the manner in which funding shall be provided for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools throughout the State. The amendment makes the entire cost of the regular education program the responsibility of the State. The system is to be funded by a combination of State and locally raised revenues. However, local revenues could be used to meet only the local share of the costs for capital outlay and maintenance and the local share of the costs for programs or services provided to particular categories of students. The State would be responsible for the balance of the funding of all educational costs including the costs of providing regular education, the State share for capital outlay and maintenance, and the State share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students. Regular education includes all educational programs provided to students within the regular school program and is separate from the categorical programs and services provided to particular categories of students.

This proposed amendment would limit the use of local revenues to fund the system of free public schools to relieve the burden of supporting the public schools put upon many local municipalities. This proposed amendment specifies that local revenues can be used for educational purposes only to pay the local share for capital outlay and maintenance and the local share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students. The State would be responsible for the balance of the funding including costs of providing regular education, the State share for capital outlay and maintenance, and the State share for programs or services provided to particular categories of students. Regular education includes all educational programs provided to students within the regular school program and is separate from the categorical programs and services provided to particular categories of students.

Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to limit the use of local revenues for funding public education.