Bill Text: NJ S644 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits local government units to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S644 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S644-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANDREW R. CIESLA
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Allen, Bateman and Gordon
SYNOPSIS
Permits local government units to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program and supplementing P.L.1997, c.388 (C.40A:14-183 et seq).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A local government unit may, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, credit a year of active emergency service or a portion thereof for each year or portion thereof in which an active volunteer member is called to State or federal active duty at a location that makes the member unavailable for active emergency service after September 11, 2001 as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard in time of war or time of emergency, or for or during any period of training therefor; provided, however, that upon completion of active armed forces duty, or training therefor, the individual returns to active volunteer status for a period of time equal to that time served in the armed forces or National Guard, unless the individual is unable to resume active volunteer status due to death or a serious service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor.
b. In computing credit for length of service under subsection a. of this section, an active volunteer shall receive pro rata credit for points granted during the prior calendar year in lieu of points that may have been granted for activities designated by the sponsoring agency provided under section 6 of P.L.1997, c.388 (C.40A:14-188).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current law, an active volunteer member of an emergency service organization who is called to active duty to serve in either the reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard is unable to earn points for his or her emergency service related activities in a local Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP).
Under this bill, a local governing body may grant LOSAP points to a volunteer who is on State or federal active duty or active duty for training. The points credited would be based on the activated volunteer's LOSAP points granted during the calendar year prior to activation. This allows volunteers to avoid being penalized because of their active military participation.
In order for a local governing body to grant LOSAP points to a volunteer who misses time as a volunteer because of time served in the armed forces or National Guard, the individual would have to return to active volunteer status for a period of time equivalent to the time served, unless the individual is unable to resume active volunteer status due to death or serious injury.
