SENATE SENIOR CITIZENS, VETERAN'S AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Nos. 56 and 55

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 2, 1996

      The Senate Senior Citizens, Veterans' Affairs and Agriculture Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution Nos. 56 and No. 55.

      This Senate committee substitute proposes to amend Article VIII, Section I, paragraph 4 of the New Jersey Constitution to authorize the placement of a question before the voters on whether to increase from $250 to $500 the annual property tax deduction, and to increase from $10,000 to $15,000 the annual income limitation for eligibility to receive the $500 deduction, from property taxes assessed against or attributable to the dwellings of citizens and residents of the State, of age 65 years or older, or permanently and totally disabled. If approved by the people, this amendment would need implementing legislation to adjust current statutory limits.

      The committee also adopted a technical amendment to reflect the current language of the pertinent constitutional provision.