SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 3848

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2021

 

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3848.

      As amended, this bill would allow any county board of elections to expand their staff and appoint a clerk, office employees, and a director of such employees at their discretion, subject to the county’s budgetary requirements and approval by the respective board of county commissioners.

      Under current law, N.J.S.A.19:6-21.1, each county board of elections is required to prepare the annual budget request for the office of county board of elections pursuant to N.J.S.A.40A:4-45.45b, which imposes a 2% cap on county budget increases. Board of elections employee salaries are subject to this cap.

      The bill also makes technical changes to reflect the name change for the county governing body, from board of chosen freeholders to board of county commissioners.

      As amended, this bill is identical to Assembly No. 5816 (1R).

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove the requirement in all counties for the clerk, the director, and all employees to be appointed from the competitive class of civil service.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.