SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 68

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 9, 1996

      The Senate State Government Committee reports without recommendation Senate Concurrent Resolution, No. 68.

      This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution to require that any bill or joint resolution, and any amendment to a bill or joint resolution, that has the net effect of raising State revenues by levying a new State tax or proposing to increase an existing State tax shall be passed by the Legislature only by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of each House of the Legislature.

      At present under the State Constitution, a bill or joint resolution levying a new State tax or proposing to increase an existing State tax need receive only a majority vote to pass the Legislature, like other bills and resolutions.

      If approved by the voters voting at the general election next following its final approval by the Legislature, the constitutional amendment would be applicable to bills and joint resolutions pending in either House of the Legislature during the legislative sessions beginning on or after approval of the amendment.