Labor & Employment (Public Employees)

This bill allows small New Jersey municipalities (under 12,000 population without police departments) to hire qualified candidates without civil service exams if the Civil Service Commission fails to provide a certified hiring list within 30 days or if the list yields no suitable candidates. The municipality must use a waiver form approved by the Commission, and the hired candidate must complete a working test period to gain civil service status. The Commission cannot require the municipality to replace such hires later, even if a standard eligible list becomes available.

Bill A 3154 prohibits terminal leave compensation for local government employees in counties, municipalities, fire districts, and similar entities (excluding school districts) who have adopted New Jersey’s Title 11A civil service rules. It bans using accumulated administrative leave, vacation, sick leave, or longevity benefits for full pay during the terminal leave period before retirement. The bill also requires medical verification for employees using six or more consecutive sick days within 12 months of retirement eligibility, with improper use leading to deduction from retirement benefits. Employers may mandate physician examinations to verify medical necessity for sick leave claims.

This bill prohibits remote work for New Jersey State employees in career, senior executive, and unclassified service positions. It amends state law to explicitly ban remote work eligibility, overriding the existing 2022 Model Telework Pilot Program that allowed up to two remote days weekly. The Civil Service Commission can no longer establish rules permitting remote work for these employee categories. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

This New Jersey bill (S 873) revises civil service rules to increase flexibility for government employers. It requires civil service examinations to be offered continuously (not just periodically) and permits state/local government entities to opt out of standard civil service hiring requirements. The bill also clarifies temporary appointment rules, allowing positions to be filled for up to six months (or nine months for seasonal roles) without competitive exams. These changes directly affect government agencies managing hiring and job applicants seeking civil service positions.