Bill Text: NJ S545 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Exempts veterans from $15 fee for open and competitive civil service examinations.*
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S545 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S545-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator GERALD CARDINALE
District 39 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Bateman
SYNOPSIS
Exempts veterans from $15 fee for open and competitive civil service examinations and from local residency requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning civil service employment preference for certain veterans and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1992, c.197 (C.11A:4-1.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section concerning law enforcement officer and firefighter examinations, the Commissioner of the Department of Personnel shall establish a $15 fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), and persons meeting the definition of disabled veteran or veteran pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1, shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from application fees established by this subsection shall be appropriated to the department.
b. The commissioner shall establish a fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination for a law enforcement officer or firefighter title. The fee shall not exceed the cost of developing, procuring and administering the examination, including the processing of any appeals or reviews associated with the examination. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), and persons meeting the definition of disabled veteran or veteran pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1, shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from application fees established by this subsection shall be appropriated to the department for use in developing, procuring and administering law enforcement officer and firefighter examinations, including the processing of any appeals or reviews associated with those examinations.
c. In addition to the fees established in subsections a. and b. of this section, the commissioner shall establish a $15 fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination for a position in State service. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), and persons meeting the definition of disabled veteran or veteran pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1, shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from the application fee established pursuant to this subsection shall be appropriated annually to the department for the costs of the displaced workers pool program. This fee shall not be assessed and collected unless the commissioner implements a displaced workers pool program. If the displaced workers pool program is terminated at any time by the commissioner, the assessment and collection of this additional fee shall also be terminated.
(cf: P.L.2002, c.34, s.11)
2. N.J.S.11A:4-3 is amended to read as follows:
11A:4-3. Admission to examinations.
a. If it appears that an eligible list is not likely to provide full certification for existing or anticipated vacancies from among qualified residents of this State, or of political subdivisions where required by law, the commissioner may admit other qualified nonresident applicants. Where residency preference is provided pursuant to any other statute, the commissioner may limit applicants to such classes as are necessary to establish a sufficient pool of eligibles.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution to the contrary, a person meeting the definition of disabled veteran or veteran pursuant to N.J.S.11A:5-1 shall be exempt from any local residency requirement and shall be admitted to any examination and ranked on an eligible list for employment anywhere in the State without regard to that person's local residency.
(cf: N.J.S.11A:4-3)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends various provisions of Title 11A, civil service, regarding veterans' preference in employment with the State or political subdivisions that have adopted the provisions of that Title.
Specifically, this bill exempts disabled veterans or veterans, as determined by the Adjutant General of the State's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, from the $15 fee required to be paid for open and competitive examinations. This bill also exempts those veterans from any local residency requirement established by a municipality, county, or local government entity in connection with an examination and ranking for local employment.
