SENATE, No. 699

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 15, 1996

By Senator LESNIAK

An Act concerning voluntary contributions through gross income tax returns to support the activities of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, supplementing chapter 9 of Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

    1. a. Each taxpayer shall have the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer's New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of the taxpayer's tax refund or an enclosed contribution be deposited in the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fund established pursuant to this section. The Director of the Division of Taxation shall provide each taxpayer with the opportunity to indicate the taxpayer's preference on the tax return to contribute to the fund in substantially the following way:

    "New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fund: I wish to contribute $5 □, $10 □, other amount $ ............. □ to this fund."

    b. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special fund to be known as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fund. The State Treasurer shall deposit into the fund net contributions collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section. All moneys deposited in the fund shall be annually appropriated to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in the Department of State to support the performing and creative arts in this State.

    c. Any costs incurred by the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this section, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section prior to deposit into the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fund.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1996.

STATEMENT

    This bill creates the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fund and provides for a tax refund checkoff to appear on State gross income tax returns permitting taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the fund for the support of the performing and creative arts in this State.

    The bill permits the Division of Taxation to recoup any administrative and maintenance expenses it may incur as a result of the creation of the fund from contributions received.

    At present, there are five funds supported by a tax refund checkoff on the State gross income tax return: Endangered and Nongame Species of Wildlife Conservation Fund; the Children's Trust Fund; the

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund; the Breast Cancer Research Fund; and the Battleship New Jersey Memorial Fund.

Provides for checkoff for taxpayers to make voluntary contributions on gross income tax returns to support activities of New Jersey State Council on the Arts.