[Third Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 557

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  PAUL D. MORIARTY

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman  RALPH R. CAPUTO

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblyman  JOSEPH A. LAGANA

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Schaer, DeAngelo, Burzichelli, McKeon, Holley, Johnson, Chiaravalloti, Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Mosquera, Assemblymen Freiman and Benson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires adoption of anti-nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As amended on February 25, 2019 by the General Assembly pursuant to the Governor's recommendations.

  


An Act concerning 3[nepotism] anti-nepotism3 policies of school districts and charter schools and supplementing chapter 12 3[and chapter 36A]3 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes 3and P.L.1995, c.426 (C.18A:36A-1 et seq.)3.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  As used in this 3[act 1[,] ;1] section:

     “Immediate family member” means the person’s spouse, partner in a civil union as defined in section 92 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-33), domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), or dependent child, residing in the same household;3

     1["relative"] “Relative”1 means an individual's spouse, partner in a civil union as defined pursuant to 3[section 2] section 923 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-33), domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), or the parent, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister of the individual or of the individual’s spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner, whether the relative is related to the individual or the individual's spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner by blood, marriage, or adoption 1;

     “School board attorney” means an attorney employed in-house by a school district on a full-time basis1.

     b.    As a condition of receiving State aid, the board of education of a school district or county vocational school district shall adopt and implement 3[a nepotism] an anti-nepotism3 policy.  The 3[nepotism] anti-nepotism3 policy shall include, but need not be limited to:

     (1)  a provision prohibiting any relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel from being employed in an office or position in the district; except that a person employed by the district on the effective date of the policy or the date a relative becomes a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel shall not be prohibited from continuing to be employed or to be promoted in the district or, in the case of a reduction in force, in any position to which the person has a legal entitlement.

     A district may employ a relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel provided that the district has obtained the approval of the executive county superintendent of schools.  The approval shall be granted only upon demonstration by the school district that it conducted a thorough search for candidates and that the proposed candidate is the only qualified and available person for the position 1[.] ;1

     (2)  a provision prohibiting the chief school administrator from recommending to the school board pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.125 (C.18A:27-4.1) any relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel unless the person is subject to the exception pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection;

     (3)  a provision prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney from exercising direct or indirect authority, supervision, or control over his relative.  Where it is not feasible to eliminate a direct or indirect supervisory relationship, appropriate screens or alternative supervision and reporting mechanisms shall be put in place;

     (4)  a provision prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney, or a board member, who has a relative who is a member of the bargaining unit from discussing or voting on the proposed collective bargaining agreement with that unit or from participating in any way in negotiations including, but not limited to, being a member of the negotiating team; nor shall the district administrator including the director of personnel, or school board attorney be present with the school board in closed session when negotiation strategies are being discussed; provided, however, that the administrator including the director of personnel, or a school board attorney may serve as a technical resource to the negotiating team and may provide technical information necessary to the collective bargaining process when no one else in the district can provide such information; 3[and]3

     (5)  a provision 3prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney, or a board member, who has an immediate family member who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district from participating in any way in negotiations including, but not limited to, being a member of the negotiating team or being present with the school board in closed sessions when negotiation strategies are being discussed, prior to the school board attaining a tentative memorandum of agreement with the bargaining unit that includes a salary guide and total compensation package.  Once the tentative memorandum of agreement is established, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or school board attorney with an immediate family member who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may fully participate in the process, absent other conflicts.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph to the contrary, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney who has an immediate family member who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may serve as a technical resource to the negotiating team and may provide technical information necessary to the collective bargaining process when no one else in the district can provide such information; and

     (6) a provision3 2[prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney, or a board member, who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district from participating in any way in negotiations including, but not limited to, being a member of the negotiating team or being present with the school board in closed sessions when negotiation strategies are being discussed, prior to the school board attaining a tentative memorandum of agreement with the bargaining unit that includes a salary guide and total compensation package.  Once the tentative memorandum of agreement is established, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or school board attorney with  a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may fully participate in the process, absent other conflicts.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph to the contrary, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may serve as a technical resource to the negotiating team and may provide technical information necessary to the collective bargaining process when no one else in the district can provide such information] providing that if a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel resigns or ceases to be employed by the school district, and his relative becomes employed in an office or position in the school district within the three months following the resignation or cessation of employment, then the school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel shall not be employed by the district for a period of 12 months from his last date of service or employment2.

     c.    A school district or county vocational school district may exclude per diem substitutes and student employees from its board 3[nepotism] anti-nepotism3 policy.

 

     2.    The board of trustees of a charter school shall adopt and implement 3[a nepotism] an anti-nepotism3 policy.  The policy shall comply with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.     , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and apply to members of the board of trustees and administrators of the charter school.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect 1[immediately] on the 60th day after the date of enactment1.