SENATE, No. 1192

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 30, 1996

By Senators RICE and LIPMAN

An Act concerning promotional examinations for certain county and municipal police and fire departments and supplementing Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

    1. The Department of Personnel shall, pursuant to any procedure governing the selection and appointment of candidates to fill a vacancy by promotion in the police or fire department of a county or municipality that has adopted the provisions of Title `11A of the New Jersey Statutes, including any procedure required under a United States Department of Justice consent decree, provide that any team of examiners established to conduct oral examinations of such candidates be composed of at least one person fluent in Spanish, as needed, and one person with police or fire department experience, as appropriate.

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fifth month after enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires the Department of Personnel to include in all of its teams of examiners for police and firefighter promotional vacancies in local governments operating under Title 11A (Civil Service) at least one examiner for the oral examination who is fluent in Spanish, as needed, and one with police or fire department experience, as appropriate. Such a requirement would be applicable with respect to standard hiring procedures and those that fall under the consent decree of the United States Department of Justice. This will enhance the likelihood that otherwise well qualified Spanish-speaking candidates who have already passed their written examinations will succeed on the oral examinations.

Requires oral examining teams for certain police and firefighter vacancies include members who speak Spanish and have relevant experience.