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The Assembly Budget Committee met on Tuesday, April 15th to review Governor Corzine's proposed FY 2009 budget. Various issues were discussed, to include the awarding of the medical services contract to UMDNJ and the early retirement incentive. All state employees enrolled in PFRS will not be eligible, as well as other employees in three other departments. The PAC committee report is three pages and can be viewed here click here
In addition, State Treasurer David Rousseau made a statement in reference to the early retirement incentive (ERI) click here
Political Action Committee releases their most current Legislative agenda:
One of the main missions of the PAC committee is to promote and monitor legislation that will advance the best interests and welfare of our membership. The PAC committee is currently solicting support for several bills introduced in this session. We ask all members to print and send this letter to the State Senator and Assembly representatives in your district. click here to access our legislative priorities.
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Write or Call Your State Legislators Today!
Ask them to protect the negotiated wages, pensions & health benefits of state law enforcement officers.
Take the time to tell them:
We will not let any elected official mislead the general public by turning us into scapegoats for all the State’s fiscal problems.
State legislators should show respect for the rule of law by honoring the State’s legal obligations, including employment contracts with the unions representing state law enforcement personnel.
In past contract negotiations, the membership and those of other unions agreed to concessions which have saved the State hundreds of millions of dollars.
Contract negotiations are best left to the bargaining table, not to elected officials engaged in self-serving demagoguery.
When you contact your state legislators, make sure you let them know that you are a proud active member of the independent NJSOA – New Jersey Superior Officers Law Enforcement Association. Remember to remind them that you, your family and friends are registered voters.
State Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights
Recent Bipartisan Progress Made with the Help of Senator Asselta and Assemblyman Cryan
 Senator Nick Asselta (R-1) is the primary sponsor of our joint-union, five-part legislative initiative – Senate bills 1918, 1971, 2184, 2185 and 2189. By month’s end, we will meet with officials from the other state corrections/law enforcement unions to discuss how best to advance what is arguably one of the most significant legislative initiatives in decades. We cannot thank enough Senator Asselta for his proven, long-standing commitment to the state law enforcement community. When enacted, the legislation will serve to codify and enhance fundamental due-process protections for all state law enforcement officers in the classified career service. Regrettably, the Law Enforcement Officers’ Protection Act (Public Law 1996, chapter 115) – supported by both the State FOP and the State PBA – applies predominately to our county and municipal counterparts.
 Assemblyman Joe Cryan, Deputy Majority Leader & Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, has decided to become the primary sponsor of the companion measures in the General Assembly — namely, Assembly bills 3665, 3663, 3662, and 3666. This is but one more example of his proven commitment to the state law enforcement community. Assemblyman Cryan also serves as the Under Sheriff in Union County.
Thank you, Assemblyman Cryan!
PRESS RELEASE
Office of New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Asselta
“Correction Officers Must Be Treated Fairly”
Affirming his support of our State’s law enforcement officers, Senator Nick Asselta introduced the first bill of a package on Thursday, May 18, to retitle our State correction officers as State correctional police officers.
“State correction officers currently have general police powers. Unfortunately, their title has mislead the general public to narrowly view these officers as prison guards rather than law enforcement officers,” stated Senator Asselta. “Senate Bill 1918 [S1918] addresses this matter as well as clarifying their law enforcement powers.”
In addition to S1918, Senator Asselta will be introducing ... bills to complete the package at the next Senate quorum ... [Senate bills 1971, 2184 and 2185]. One proposal will be known as the “State Corrections Officers’ Bill of Rights.” This measure establishes specific rights, privileges and protections for State correction officers who are subject to charges which, after investigation, might lead to disciplinary hearings and actions. It lays out procedural rights and protections that all officers should be afforded in a disciplinary setting.
The final bill to complete the set will authorize paid leaves of absence for certain corrections officers to attend any State or national convention of their employee organization (i.e., union). Currently, only the duly authorized representatives of employee organizations affiliated with police and fire organizations are eligible for these paid leaves of absences.
“The State Corrections Officers’ package will correct an inequity that presently exists in their administrative system. They put their life on the line every day in the same manner that police officers and firefighters do, and should be treated as such,” concluded Senator Asselta. “I look forward to working with the officers and my colleagues to advance these measures through the legislative process.”
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