ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1978

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 7, 1996

      The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly, No. 1978.

      Under the provisions of P.L.1995, c.193, approved on August 2, 1995, the governing body of any county is permitted, by ordinance or resolution, to increase the basic compensation received by members of district boards of elections each time the primary election, the general election or any special election is held from $75 to $100.

      Pursuant to P.L.1995, c.278, approved on December 22, 1995, the compensation for district board members serving at a school election was set at an hourly rate of $5.77. This amount was derived from the formula that previously dictated school election workers compensation: 1/13 of the daily compensation paid to district board members who served at a primary, general or special election.

      As a result of these enactments, the compensation of district board members in counties that have increased compensation for serving at a primary, general or special election would be $100, but for those same members the compensation for serving at a school election would be based on $75 per day.

      The bill addresses the discrepancy by permitting the board of education of a school district conducting a school election to increase the rate of pay of poll workers to $7.69, an hourly rate that is proportional to the rate of district board members within the county if the school district is within a county that provides that the compensation for its district board members at a primary, general or special election is $100.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that subsections a. (providing for additional compensation for certain duties), b. (providing for a reduction in compensation to $50 if the member failed to attend a required training program) and c. (providing for no compensation if a special election is held simultaneously) apply to district board members serving at a school election and that in the case of subsection b., the compensation shall be at an hourly rate of $3.85.