September 14, 2010

Re:      I.          Legislative Session Update
            II.        Toolkit Resolution – We Need Your Help
            III.       A-2911, Library Bill, Conditionally Vetoed
            IV.       S-837 – Sex Offender Residency

Dear Mayor:

I.          Legislative Session Update

Yesterday the Senate Community and Urban Affairs and Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee met and took action on the following bills:

S-1877, which the League supports, would permit counties and municipalities whose hiring preferences are not regulated by the civil service rules the ability to provide hiring preferences to veterans, was released, with amendments, from the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.  In order to be eligible for preferential treatment when applying for employment with a county or municipality, the veteran must be at least equally qualified with all other candidates for the position.  The bill does not modify any provision of chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes concerning preference given to veterans with regard to employment in police and fire departments.

S-2025, which the League supports, authorizes executive county superintendent of schools to require implementation of shared services agreements and to approve school district collective negotiations agreements prior to execution of agreement, was discussed before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee with no action taken on the bill. 

S-2220, which the League supports, limits sick leave pay and vacation carry forward for school and local employees, permits a municipality to pay accumulated sick leave over a 5 year period, and limits use of sick leave in final year of employment, was released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  The bill would limit supplemental compensation at retirement for accumulated leave to $15,000.  However, if a current employee accumulated leave exceeds $15,000 they would be allowed to retain that level of accumulated leave at retirement but cannot add to that level.  In addition the bill prohibits an employee in 12 months prior to retirement from having more than 6 or more consecutive sick days without medical verification.

S-2233, which the League supports, would permit the early termination of appointed municipal court judge, public defender and prosecutor when two or more municipalities enter into shared services agreements or consolidate municipal court functions, was released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
II.        Toolkit Resolution – We Need Your Help

We have received numerous inquiries as to what individual municipalities can do to assist the League in advocating the necessary “toolkit” management reforms, in light of the new 2% levy cap.  We would like to thank the over 180 municipalities that have already shown support.  However, we need all towns to adopt this resolution.

If you have not already done so, please consider passing the draft resolution the League prepared and distributed in our July 14 Dear Mayor letter.  Our goal is for all municipalities in the State to pass a resolution consistent with the intent of this resolution, which urges the Legislature to promptly act on the “toolkit” reforms.  The resolution is available in Word or PDF format at the League’s toolkit information page: http://www.njslom.org/2011FY-Budget/toolbox-news.html

Also, we continue to update daily the Governor Christie’s Tool Box News, which is available on our homepage.  Yesterday, we added our update on the Toolkit developments.   Please check the page for updates.

III.       A-2911, Library Bill, Conditionally Vetoed

Yesterday, Governor Christie conditionally vetoed A-2911, which would require the transfer of free public library surplus in excess of 20% to be transferred to the municipality.  The bill now heads back to the Assembly for action on the Governor’s conditional veto. 

IV.      S-837 – Sex Offender Residency

Also in Trenton yesterday, the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee released S-837, which would authorize local ordinances restricting where registered sex offenders can reside. While the Legislature does need to act on this issue, due to a Supreme Court opinion invalidating previous local ordinances, we fear that this bill, as currently drafted, would lead to similar Constitutional challenges – and likely similar results.

Accordingly, we have asked to meet with the sponsor to discuss possible amendments that would provide a constitutionally sustainable basis for sex offender residency restrictions.

We will keep you posted on these matters, as they advance. If you have any questions, please contact any of our Legislative Analysts – Mike Cerra at mcerra@njslom.com, Lori Buckelew at lbuckelew@njslom.com or Jon Moran at jmoran@njslom.com; or by phone at 609-695-3481, ext. 120, 112 or 121, respectively.

Very truly yours,

William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director