ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 11
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 8, 1996
By Assemblymen COLLINS, ROBERTS, Assemblywoman Gill, Assemblyman Garcia, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Felice, Gregg and DeCroce
An Assembly Resolution establishing the Assembly Task Force on Education Funding.
Whereas, Since 1970, the State of New Jersey has been involved in a series of legal challenges to its system of funding public elementary and secondary education; and
Whereas, These challenges have been based in large part upon the assertion that New Jersey's system of funding public education has not met the constitutional requirement to provide all students with a thorough and efficient education; and
Whereas, In its Abbott v. Burke school funding decisions, the New Jersey Supreme Court found both the "Public School Education Act of 1975," P.L.1975, c.212, and the "Quality Education Act of 1990," P.L.1990, c.52, unconstitutional as applied to the poorest urban school districts in the State because of their failure to provide an adequate level of educational opportunity to students within those districts; and
Whereas, In its July, 1994 Abbott v. Burke decision, the Supreme Court specifically required that the Legislature and the Governor adopt by September, 1996, for implementation in the 1997-98 school year, a funding formula which ensures the provision of a "thorough and efficient" education for students in the special needs districts; and
Whereas, It is of critical importance that the uncertainty which has surrounded the funding of public education within the State during the past several years be alleviated for all school districts to enable them to engage in the educational planning which is necessary to provide the programs and services essential to a "thorough and efficient" education; and
Whereas, In order to meet the mandate of the Supreme Court in regard to educational funding it is essential that the members of the Legislature study the complex issues associated with public school funding and reach a consensus on the most appropriate manner to comply with the directives of the court; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is established the Assembly Task Force on Education Funding to examine the issue of school finance and the directives of the New Jersey Supreme Court in regard to the funding of the public schools and to make recommendations on the provisions of a new school funding formula. The task force shall consist of eight members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker thereof. No more than five members shall be of the same political party.
2. a. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members. The speaker shall appoint a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. The chairman may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
b. The task force may meet at the call of its chair at the times and in the places it may deem appropriate and necessary to fulfill its charge.
3. a. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.
b. The task force shall further be entitled to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
4. The task force shall issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly, along with any recommendations it may have for legislative bills, by July 30, 1996.
STATEMENT
This resolution establishes the Assembly Task Force on Education Funding. The task force is to consist of eight members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker. The task force is charged with examining the issues associated with school finance and the directives of the New Jersey Supreme Court in regard to the funding of the public schools. The task force is to issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly, along with any recommendations it may have for legislative bills, by July 30, 1996.
Establishes the Assembly Task Force on Education Funding.