Bill Text: NJ S2677 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides 10% reduction in compensation for members of Legislature.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-31 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S2677 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2677-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO
District 8 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Provides 10% reduction in compensation for members of Legislature.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act providing a reduction in the compensation for members of the Legislature and amending P.L.1948, c.16.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1948, c.16 (C.52:10A-1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Members of the Senate and General Assembly shall receive annually, during the term for which they shall have been elected and while they shall hold their office, compensation in the sum of [$35,000.00 beginning with the 1990 legislative year and compensation in the sum of] $49,000 beginning with the 2002 legislative year through the 2011 legislative year and $44,100 beginning with the 2012 legislative year and thereafter. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, each by virtue of his office, shall receive an additional allowance, equal to 1/3 of his compensation as a member. The compensation herein provided shall be paid to each member upon his qualifying into office as such member, and the additional allowance herein provided to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly shall be paid upon his qualifying into office as such officer.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.380, s.12)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides for a 10% reduction in the compensation paid to a member of the Legislature, from $49,000 to $44,100, beginning with the 2011 legislative year. The New Jersey Constitution (Article IV, Section IV, Paragraph 8) provides that legislators' compensation may be increased or decreased by law, but that any change cannot take effect until the legislative year following the next general election for members of the General Assembly. As a result, the decrease in compensation provided by this bill will begin with the 2012 legislative year following the next election for members of the General Assembly in November 2011.
Current law provides that the presiding officer of each house of the Legislature receives an additional allowance equal to 1/3 of his compensation as a member. Consequently, this bill will result in this additional allowance also being reduced by 10%.
The economy of our Nation and our State is in turmoil, and hundreds of thousands of State residents have lost their jobs, with many more taking pay cuts. The State is experiencing a serious budget crisis, and State employees have been asked to make concessions. By reducing their compensation by 10%, this bill will enable legislators to share in the sacrifices being made by average State citizens, while also sending a message that the Legislature is serious about solving the current budget crisis.
