SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1177

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 3, 1996

      The Senate State Government Committee reports favorably Senate, No. 1177.

      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 returning to the formula used previously and provides that the compensation for district board members serving at a school election shall be paid by the board of education of the school district conducting the election at an hourly rate equal to 1/13 of the daily compensation payable to members of district boards of elections within the county. Use of this formula will insure that district board members who serve at a school election will be compensated at a rate that is proportional to the rate that those members receive for serving at a primary, general or special election.