SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 906

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 3, 1996

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate, No.906.

      The bill would amend section 1 of P.L.1977, c.347 (C.40A:14-177) to allow a county or municipal employee, who is a duly authorized representative of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey, to take a leave of absence with pay to attend any State or national convention of that organization. Currently, this section of law provides that 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 of those organizations.

      Currently, section 1 of P.L.1977, c.347 (C.40A:14-177) provides that a certificate of attendance must be submitted by the attendee upon request and that the leave of absence shall be for the duration of the convention with a reasonable time allowed for travel to and from the convention. An employee attending a convention held by the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey would be subject to these requirements.

      Section 1 of P.L.1993, c.105 (C.11A:6-10), which was enacted on April 13, 1993, allows a corrections officer who is covered by Civil Service and 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 same privilege to all county and municipal employees.

      Upon enactment, this bill would be effective immediately and would be retroactive to April 13, 1993, which is the effective date of P.L.1993, c.105. This will enable local government employees who are members of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey to receive pay for leaves of absence taken to attend conventions on or after April 13, 1993.