New Jersey League of Municipalities
Legislative Policy

1. Legislation will be approved by the Legislative Committee only if it appears that enactment will benefit our members.
   
   
2. The Legislative Committee will oppose all proposals which:
   a. Impose additional costs upon municipalities (directly or indirectly) without providing  new revenue to pay such cost from sources other than general property taxes;
   b. Take away revenue now received by municipalities unless replaced from some source other than general property taxes;
   c. Exempt property from general property taxes unless equivalent, new replacement revenues are provided by the state;
   d. Provide tenure protection for municipal officers and employees since such tenure intrudes on the appointment prerogatives of the Mayor and Governing Body;
   e. It is essential that the municipalities of the State should act in unison on adverse legislation, and hence if only a portion of the members are affected by undesirable bills, these bills should be opposed as a matter of principle, or otherwise unfavorable legislation will be enacted piecemeal;
   f. The Legislative Committee will act in conformity with the spirit of the Home Rule Act and will oppose all measures involving attempts to have the State interfere in the local affairs of municipalities;
   g. The Legislative Committee will normally oppose proposal that would either (1) deprive municipalities of rights, powers or privileges, or (2) deprive them of substantial actual revenues, whether from the State or Federal Governments or locally generated. The Legislative Committee will normally approve proposals that would benefit any Municipality or group of municipalities; provided the proposals do not (1) significantly deprive other municipalities of rights, powers or privileges, or (2) deprive them of substantial actual revenues, whether from the State or Federal Governments or generated locally.
   
   
3. The Legislative Committee will take no position on legislation if one group of members is adversely affected and another benefited. The Legislative Committee will take no position on bills where a clear consensus cannot be reached. A prevailing vote of 2/3 or a quorum of 30 shall constitute such a clear consensus. When more than a quorum is present, the 2/3 rule must prevail to sustain a clear consensus. In cases where no position is taken because of a lack of clear consensus, the staff will be instructed to communicate the concerns on both sides in their contacts with legislators. Where appropriate, action on a particular bill pending before the Committee may be deferred, pending review and direction by the Executive Board. The determination of appropriate circumstances warranting referral to the Board shall be made by the chair and the Executive Director.
   
   
4. The League Legislative Committee does not draft legislation. Its purpose is to consider all bills which have been introduced and which have some effect upon local governments. The League, however, periodically creates special ad hoc committees to work with individual Legislators in drafting legislation, sometimes, but not necessarily related to resolutions adopted at the League Conference. In such instances, bills provided by such special committees will represent the position of the Legislative Committee for further action. For the purpose of coordination, such special committees will include members of the Legislative Committee wherever appropriate.