SENATE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3830

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 18, 2019

      The Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3830.

      This bill revises the law regarding paid leaves of absence for public officers and employees in the performance of certain service as a member of the organized State militia, which consists of the New Jersey Air and Army National Guard, Naval Militia, and State Guard, or the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States, which includes the National Guard of other states. This benefit is commonly known as military leave. The bill permits public officers and employees in the State militia to use paid military leave for any required inactive duty training or other regularly scheduled required training.

      Currently, an officer or employee of a State agency, county, school district, or municipality who is a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States is entitled under N.J.S.A.38:23-1 to 30 work days per calendar year on military leave granted for any period of federal active duty. Under N.J.S.38A:4-4, officers or employees who are members of the National Guard, or other component of the organized militia, of New Jersey are entitled to military leave for State or federal active duty of up to 90 work days per calendar year. While the New Jersey National Guard is also a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, members of the New Jersey National Guard are entitled under N.J.S.A.38A:4-4 to enhanced military leave benefits due to the vital State responsibilities in New Jersey assumed by the New Jersey National Guard in addition to its federal responsibilities.

      This bill would entitle public officers and employees to use paid leave within the current limits for any period of required inactive duty training or other regularly scheduled required training.