SENATE, No. 1647

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 28, 1996

By Senators LaROSSA, LYNCH, Inverso, Sinagra, Connors, Cafiero, Matheussen, Martin, Bassano, Bryant, Baer, Schluter, Kyrillos, Haines, Scott, Zane, Adler, Littell, McGreevey, Casey, Kenny and Lipman

An Act concerning the approval of Executive branch reorganization plans and amending the title and body of P.L.1969, c.203.

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

    1. The Title of P.L.1969, c.203 is amended to read as follows:

An Act providing for the organization and reorganization of the Executive branch of government by submission of reorganization plans by the Governor subject to [disapproval]approval by the Legislature within 60 days,[and] providing for the publication thereof, and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

    (cf: P.L.1969, c.203, Title)

    2. Section 7 of P.L.1969, c.203 (C.52:14C-7) is amended to read as follows:

    7. (a) Except as otherwise provided by subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a reorganization plan shall take effect at the end of a period of 60 calendar days after the date on which the plan is transmitted to the Senate and General Assembly on a day on which both thereof shall be meeting in the course of a regular or special session [unless, between the date of transmittal and the end of the] provided that, within the 60-day period, the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution stating in substance that the Legislature [does not favor] approves the reorganization plan. If the Legislature does not pass such a concurrent resolution within the 60-day period, the reorganization plan shall not take effect.

    (b) Under provisions contained in a reorganization plan, a provision of the plan approved by the Legislature may be effective at a time later than the date on which the plan otherwise is effective.

    (c) A reorganization plan which is[not disapproved] approved in the manner provided by subparagraph (a) of this section shall have the force and effect of law and the Secretary of State shall cause the same to be printed and published in the annual edition of the public laws under a heading of "Reorganization Plans."

(cf: P.L.1969, c.203, s.7)

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    At present, a reorganization plan of the Executive branch submitted by the Governor to the Legislature shall take effect within 60 calendar days after the date on which the plan is transmitted to the Senate and General Assembly on a day in which both houses are meeting unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution within the 60-day period stating that it does not favor the reorganization plan. Thus, the plan takes effect if the Legislature does not act. This bill specifies instead that a reorganization plan can only take effect provided that, within the 60-day period, the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution stating that it approves the reorganization plan. If the Legislature does not pass such a concurrent resolution with the 60-day period, the reorganization plan shall not take effect.

Provides that the Legislature must approve a reorganization plan submitted by the Governor for it to take effect.