Current Legislation - Dec. 20, 2010

All Public Employees Must Live in New Jersey: A A-2478 (Moriarty, Riley, Burzichelli, Fuentes, Wilson)/S-1730 (Norcorss, O’Toole, Sacco), The New Jersey First Act,  passed in the Senate (23-10).

Under the bill, all newly hired public employees would be required to live in New Jersey or move to the state within a year of taking a position.

The measure would cover all state, county and municipal employees as well as anyone working for political subdivisions of the state. Employees of public authorities, boards, agencies and commissions would also be subject to the measure. Additionally, the bill would cover all employees working within the educational system. A three-member committee, with one person each appointed by the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker, would review individual applications for exemption in cases involving extreme hardship or other unique circumstances.

NJEA had opposed the bill but worked tirelessly with the sponsors to get amendments protecting all current employees under all the circumstances that we could contemplate.

The Governor now has 45 days to sign the legislation into law.

Disqualifying Board of Education Members for Criminal Convictions:  A-444 (Green, Bramnick, Conners, Conaway, Jasey)/S-295 (Allen, Buono) has passed the Senate (36-0) and is now on second reading in the Assembly to concur with Senate amendments..  This legislation disqualifies board of education members for convictions of certain crimes and requires background checks.  NJEA supported this bill but also suggested a series of friendly amendments, including covering trustees at charter schools and expungement language.