ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1451

with Assembly committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 7, 1996

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1451 (1R), with committee amendments.

      Assembly Bill No. 1451 (1R), as amended provides that all persons employed on the date on which the bill takes effect as law as inspectors by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Bureau, members of the State Capitol Police Force, and marine law enforcement officers in the Bureau of Marine Law Enforcement may become members of the Division of State Police and of the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), provided they meet certain requirements. The requirements are that the inspector, member, or officer must (1) be between 18 and 55 years of age, (2) satisfy the health and physical fitness standards applicable to members of the State Police, and (3) have rendered performance as an inspector, member, or officer that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of State Police the character and ability to perform the duties of a member of the State Police. These persons would become members of the State Police, with all the powers, rights, privileges and benefits of State Police officers. An alcoholic beverage control inspector, State Capitol Police Force member, or marine law enforcement officer who does not become a member of the Division of State Police and elects to continue employment with the Department of Law and Public Safety shall, consistent with the operational needs of the Division and the Department, be transferred without loss of salary or pension to a position deemed appropriate by the Attorney General in consultation with the Commissioner of Personnel and shall continue membership in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS).

      In the Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Bureau, the specific positions covered by the legislation are those of supervising inspector, principal inspector, senior inspector, and inspector recruit. In the Bureau of Marine Law Enforcement, the specific positions covered are those of principal marine law enforcement officer, senior marine law enforcement officer, and marine law enforcement officer.

      For purposes of determining seniority of service, a person becoming a member of the State Police under the bill shall be deemed to have been hired on the date on which the bill takes effect as law. The person's salary shall be fixed by the State Police Superintendent at an amount approximately equivalent to the person's final salary in the prior position, less any "maintenance allowance" to be allowed the person as a member of the State Police. The person's rank shall also be assigned by the Superintendent based on the individual's salary, qualifications and duties.

      PFRS and PERS shall remit to SPRS employee and employer contributions standing to the credit of a transferred inspector, member or officer. If the transferred contributions are insufficient to fund the SPRS liability created by the transfer of service credit, the employer (i.e., the State) shall be liable for the amount of the deficiency.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      In the fiscal note to this bill, it was noted that the net cost to the State would be approximately $787,000 in the first year.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments clarify language concerning the provision for assignment of non-transferring officers to appropriate positions in principal departments of State government which permit membership in PFRS.