SENATE, No. 906

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 7, 1996

By Senators SCOTT and KOSCO

An Act concerning leaves of absence for certain public employees to attend State or national conventions and amending P.L.1977, c.347.

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

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.347 (C.40A:14-177) is amended to read as follows:

    1. The heads of the county offices of the several counties and the head of every department, bureau and office in the government of the various municipalities shall give a leave of absence with pay to every person in the service of the county or municipality who is a duly authorized representative of the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Inc., Fraternal Order of Police, American Federation of Police Officers, Inc., Bronze Shields, Inc., Batons, Vulcan Pioneers, a member organization of the New Jersey Council of Charter Members of the National Black Police Association, Inc., Italian American Police Society of New Jersey, Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association, Inc., the Uniformed Firemen's Association, or the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, to attend any State or national convention of such organization.

    A certificate of attendance to the State convention shall, upon request, be submitted by the representative so attending.

    Leave of absence shall be for a period inclusive of the duration of the convention with a reasonable time allowed for time to travel to and from the convention.

(cf: P.L.1989, c.224, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall be retroactive to April 13, 1993.

STATEMENT

    P.L.1993, c.105 allows a corrections officer who is a member of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey to take a leave of absence with pay to attend, as a duly authorized representative, a State or national convention of the organization. This bill would grant this privilege to local law enforcement officers.

    Under current law, local governmental units are required to grant leaves of absence with pay to any employee who attends a State or national convention of the New Jersey State Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, American Federation of Police Officers, Inc., Bronze Shields, Inc., Batons, Vulcan Pioneers, a member organization of the New Jersey Council of Charter Members of the National Black Police Association, Inc., Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association, Inc., the Uniformed Firemen's Association, or the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police as a duly authorized representative.

    Upon enactment, this bill would be effective immediately and retroactive to April 13, 1993 which is the effective date of P.L.1993, c.105. This will enable local Italian American law enforcement officers to receive pay for leaves of absence taken to attend conventions on or after that date.

Authorizes leaves with pay for police officers attending certain State and national conventions.