Legislative Update - July 19, 2010

S-2173 (Kyrillos) was scheduled for discussion only in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee but was held until at least August 12.  The legislation, opposed by NJEA, would limit unused sick leave pay and vacation leave for all current school employees and cap sick leave payouts at $15,000.  The bill as drafted would abrogate current bargaining agreements for employees and sets new limits on certain payouts.

July 15, 2010

S-351 (Oroho, Sweeney) expands the scope and review of the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission (PHBRC).  Currently, the PHBRC reviews most pension and health care legislation concerning public employees.  This bill would expand the scope of the PHBRC to include legislation that affects the financing, procedures, or operations of pension or health care plans or programs or that mandates or permits public entities to pay for employee health care benefits in active service or in retirement.  NJEA is monitoring this bill, which passed in the Senate State Government Committee and is now on second reading in the Senate. 

S-1781 (Beach, Norcross) and S-1874 (Beach, Norcross), two bills involving sample ballots that are part of the Governor’s toolkit, were heard in the Senate State Government Committee and are now on second reading in the Senate.  NJEA is monitoring these bills.  The bills would direct that only one sample ballot be delivered to each household and that voters could receive sample ballots by e-mail.   Several groups testified about issues with these bills, which will be amended by the sponsors.