October 12, 2010
Recent legislation the Council supported that is now law.
S-1609 (Higher Ed Reform) was signed into law by outgoing Governor Corzine on January 18, 2010 as P.L.2009, c.308. The bill took effect 180 days after becoming law and Governor Christie has not implemented the law.. Click here for more info (PDF)
A-2911 (New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act”) was signed and approved as P.L.2009, c.197 on January 14, 2010. Click here for more info (PDF)
The Council's position on the following legislation:
IN SUPPORT
Governance
A-392, sponsored by Assemblyman Diegnan (D-18)
Adds to employees, chosen by campus unions, to all state college/university boards of trustees. Employees would have full voting rights, except on personnel matters.
Current status: Assembly Higher Education Committee
A-1557, sponsored by Assemblywoman Lampitt (D-6)
S-1732, sponsored by Senator Ruiz (D-29)Requires members of boards of trustees of state colleges/universities to complete training program designed by the Commission on Higher Education dealing with ethical standards, due diligence, fiduciary responsibilities and compliance with open public meetings and records statutes.
Current status: A-1557 voted out of Assembly Higher Education Committee - S-1732 in Senate Education Commitee
Tuition Assistance
A-405, sponsored by Assemblyman Diegnan (D-18)
S-1456, sponsored by Senator Turner (D-15)
Expands the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program to part-time undergraduate students at the senior public colleges and universities.
Current status: A-405 in Assembly Higher Education Committee - S-1456 in Senate Education Committee
Fair BargainingA-662, sponsored by Assemblywoman Greenstein (D-14)
S-1255, sponsored by Assemblyman Madden (D-4)
Prohibits State from implementing its last offer in negotiations. Negotiations must continue under terms of expired contract until a new contract is negotiated.
Current status: A-662 in Assembly Labor Committee - S-1255 in Senate State Government Committee
A-672, sponsored by Assemblywoman Greenstein (D-14)
S-1117, sponsored by Assemblyman Van Drew (D-1)Expands the scope of public employee collective bargaining to include all matters regarding terms and conditions of employment except those that specifically exempted from bargaining by statute.
Current status: A-672 in Assembly Labor Committee - S-1117 in Senate Labor Committee
Anti-Privatization
S-2323, sponsored by Assemblywomen Weinberg (D-37)
Requires that any privatization of public services not result in reduced services, increased costs or lower labor standards. Gives public employee unions the opportunity to review the agency’s privatization proposal and present alternatives.
Current Status: Senate Labor Committee
Pensions
SCR-1, sponsored by Senator Sweeney (D-3)
Amends the State Constitution to require State to make full annual contributions to State-administered pension plans.
Current status: passed by Senate, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
Mileage Reimbursement
A-2439, sponsored by Assemblywoman Vandervalk (R-39)
S-1708, sponsored by Senator Turner (D-15)Increases mileage reimbursement rate for a State employee driving a private automobile on State business to the IRS rate, as adjusted for inflation, currently 50 cents per mile. Existing rate is at 31 cents per mile.
Current status: A-2439 in Assembly State Government Committee - S-1708 in Senate State Government Committee
IN OPPOSITION
Governor Christie “Tool Kit” Bills
Re: state-wide bargaining
A-2963/A-3219, sponsored by Assemblyman Weber (R-26)
S-2026/S-2337, sponsored by Senator Kean (D-21)Authorizes all board of trustees to negotiate collective bargaining agreements on a campus by campus basis, thereby breaking up our state-wide bargaining unit.
A-2963 and S-2026 also removes those employees represented by CWA and IFPTE from the civil service system.
Current status: Assembly Education Committee - Senate Education Committee
Re: pre-tenure period
A-2964, sponsored by Assemblyman Weber (R-26)
S-2172, sponsored by Senator Bateman (R-16)Authorizes all boards of trustees to extend at their discretion the five year pre-tenure probationary period..
Current status: Assembly Higher Education Committee - Senate Education Committee
Note: A-3357 is a compromise tenure bill sponsored by Assembly Higher Ed. Chair Pamela Lampitt (D-6) which would allow boards of trustees to change tenure to up to 7 years and removes a one year extension that would allow for sick or maternity leave option in the current law. If passed and signed into law, it would take effect immediately and does not have a grandfathering provision for those faculty who are currently in the 5 year tenure law.
Re: Mediation
A-2962, sponsored by Assemblywoman Munoz (R-21)
S-2027, sponsored by Senator Kean (D-21)Requires that PERC mediators in contract disputes in the public higher education sector must consider in their recommendations for settlement the following factors: the impact of any reductions in State funding; the likely impact of a recommended settlement on tuition rates and the cost of benefits provided to the employees.
Current status: Assembly Labor Committee - Senate Education Committee
Re: cap on negotiated salary and benefits
A-3283, sponsored by Assemblyman Chuisano (D-24)
S-2310, sponsored by Senator Doherty (R-23)Imposes a 2% cap on the total economic package the parties may negotiate in all public sector contract negotiations. Further imposes the same cap on “interest arbitration” awards covering police and firefighters.
Current status: Assembly State Government Committee - Senate State Government Committee
Re: cap on State spending
A-3153, sponsored by Assemblyman O’Scanlon (R-12)
S-2202, sponsored by Senator Oroho (R-24)Imposes 2% cap on increase in State appropriations from previous year with limited exceptions. Requires two-thirds vote of each house of Legislature to exceed the cap.
Current status: Assembly Budget Committee - Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Re: repeal of “no impasse law in K-12 and county college sector
A-2960, sponsored by Assemblyman DiMaio (R-23)
S-2043, sponsored by Senator Handlin (R-13)Repeals the “no impasse” law that prohibits school boards and community college boards from imposing their last offer in contract negotiations. Further bars any fact finder or mediator designated by PERC to resolve an impasse in negotiations from recommending a contract settlement whose total economic package exceeds 2.5%.
Current status: Assembly Labor Committee - Senate Labor Committee
