SENATE, No. 547

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JANUARY 29, 1996

By Senator BASSANO

An Act prohibiting residency requirements for linemen and dispatchers employed by paid or part paid fire departments and forces and amending P.L.1972, c.3.

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

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1972, c.3 (C.40A:14-9.1) is amended to read as follows:

    1. No municipality shall pass any ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, order or directive, making residency therein a condition of employment for the purpose of original appointment, continued employment, promotion, or for any other purpose for any member of a paid fire department and force or paid member of a part-paid fire department and force, including persons employed by a paid or part paid fire department and force as linemen or dispatchers, and any such ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, order or directive in existence on the effective date of this act or passed hereafter shall be void and have no force or effect.

(cf: P.L.1972, c.3, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill prohibits municipalities having a paid or part paid fire department and force from enforcing residency requirements as a condition of initial or continued employment, promotion or for any other purpose, on persons employed as linemen or as fire dispatchers. Certain municipalities are attempting to force linemen and fire dispatchers to abide by municipal residency requirements for employees other than members of the fire department and force. This bill clarifies that linemen and fire dispatchers are to be considered as members of the paid or part paid fire department and force, and subject to the ban on residency requirements for members of a paid or part paid fire department and force imposed by section 1 of P.L.1972, c.3 (C.40A:14-9.1).

Prohibits residency requirement for linemen and dispatchers employed by paid or part paid fire department and force.