Updated March 17, 2008
(More bills that we support will be added as they are introduced.)
The Council strongly supports the following legislation:
Restoring the Ranks of Full-Time Faculty (FACE legislation)
- S-803, sponsored by Senator Sweeney (D-3)
Requires public institutions of higher education to ensure that by the 2013-2014 AY 75% of undergraduate courses in departments with at least eight full time faculty members are taught by full-time tenure track faculty. Adjunct and part time faculty must receive priority consideration in filling newly created full-time positions.
Current Status: Senate Education Committee
Adjunct Faculty Equity (FACE legislation)
- S-819, sponsored by Senator Stephen Sweeney (D-3)
Allows adjunct faculty to collect unemployment benefits between semesters unless the College/University has already offered the adjunct an employment conract for the next semester.
Current Status: Senate Labor Committee
Employee Representation on Boards of Trustees
- A-361, sponsored by Assemblyman Diegnan (D-18)
Adds two employees, chosen by campus unions, to every state college/university board of trustees. Employees would have full voting rights, except on personnel matters.
Current Status: Assembly Higher Education Committee
Fair Bargaining
- A-1533, sponsored by Assemblywoman Greenstein (D-14)
- S-660, sponsored by Senator Madden (D-4)
These bills prohibit public employers from unilaterally changing terms and conditions of employment, after an impasse has been reached in negotiations. Whereas now a public employer can ultimately impose its final offer on public employee unions, under this bill the terms of the expired contract would remain in effect until a the parties reach agreement on a new one. In sum, these bills would level the playing field in contract negotiations.
Current Status: A-1533 is in Assembly Labor Committee
S-660 is in the Senate State Government CommitteeNote: This bill is also a priority of the NJ State AFL-CIO Public Employee Committee
Tuition Assistance
- S-1345, sponsored by Senator Turner (D-15)
- A-2397, sponsored by Assemblyman Diegan (D-18)
Expands Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program to include part-time undergraduate students at the senior public institutions
Current Status: S-1345 is in the Senate Education Committee
A-2397 is in the Assembly Higher Education CommitteeSubcontracting
- A-1181, sponsored by Assemblywoman Oliver (D-34)
Prohibits subcontracting of unit work in public education/higher education sectors during the term of a collective bargaining agreement. After the contract expires, public employer must give union at least 90 days advanced notice and agree to discuss its intent to subcontract and negotiate over its impact on the bargaining unit.
Current Status: Assembly Labor Committee
Accountability
- A-2407, sponsored by Assemblyman Giblin (D-34)
Implements the recommendations of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) regarding fiscal management and accountability at the state colleges and universities. Specifically, the bill requires each institution to establish an audit committee with at least one member having expertise in accounting. The audit committee would assist the board of trustees in ensuring the integrity of the institution’s financial statements. The bill also establishes standards for internal and external audits. The bill further requires that members of boards of trustees and senior level managers file annual disclosure of potential conflict of interest, that each institution adopt a code of conduct for the board of trustees and senior-level management and that the boards of trustees establish written policies and procedures to protect whistle blowers.
Mileage Reimbursement
- A-263, sponsored by Assemblywoman Vanderwalk (R-39)
- S-872, sponsored by Assemblywoman Turner (D-15)
Increases mileage reimbursement rate for a State employee driving a private automobile on State business to the IRS rate, as adjusted periodically for inflation, to reflect the significant increase in the price of gas
.
Current Status: A-263 is in the Assembly State Government Committee
S- 872 is in Senate State Government CommitteeNote: This bill is also a priority of the NJ State AFL-CIO Public Employee Committee.
Paid Family Leave
- A-873, sponsored by Assemblyman Albano (D-1)
- S-786, sponsored by Senator Stephen Sweeney (D-3)
Provides 6 weeks of paid family leave per year for workers to care for sick family members or children during the first year after birth or adoption. Benefits would come from either Temporary Disability Insurance fund.
Current Status: Passed by Senate, pending vote in Assembly
Note: This bill is also a priority of the NJ State AFL-CIO Public Employee Committee
