Bill Text: NJ A557 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires adoption of anti-nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2019-03-04 - Received in the Senate, 2nd Reading - Concur. w/Gov's Recom. [A557 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A557-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 557
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Schaer, DeAngelo, Burzichelli and McKeon
SYNOPSIS
Requires the adoption of nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Education Committee on May 10, 2018, with amendments.
An Act concerning nepotism policies of school districts and charter schools and supplementing chapter 12 and chapter 36A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act 1[,] ;1
1["relative"] "Relative"1 means an individual's spouse, partner in a civil union as defined pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2006, c.103 (C.37:1-33), domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), or the parent, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother or half-sister of the individual or of the individual's spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner, whether the relative is related to the individual or the individual's spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner by blood, marriage, or adoption 1;
"School board attorney" means an attorney employed in-house by a school district on a full-time basis1.
b. As a condition of receiving State aid, the board of education of a school district or county vocational school district shall adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The nepotism policy shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) a provision prohibiting any relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel from being employed in an office or position in the district; except that a person employed by the district on the effective date of the policy or the date a relative becomes a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel shall not be prohibited from continuing to be employed or to be promoted in the district or, in the case of a reduction in force, in any position to which the person has a legal entitlement.
A district may employ a relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel provided that the district has obtained the approval of the executive county superintendent of schools. The approval shall be granted only upon demonstration by the school district that it conducted a thorough search for candidates and that the proposed candidate is the only qualified and available person for the position 1[.] ;1
(2) a provision prohibiting the chief school administrator from recommending to the school board pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1995, c.125 (C.18A:27-4.1) any relative of a school board member, chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel unless the person is subject to the exception pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection;
(3) a provision prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney from exercising direct or indirect authority, supervision, or control over his relative. Where it is not feasible to eliminate a direct or indirect supervisory relationship, appropriate screens or alternative supervision and reporting mechanisms shall be put in place;
(4) a provision prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney, or a board member, who has a relative who is a member of the bargaining unit from discussing or voting on the proposed collective bargaining agreement with that unit or from participating in any way in negotiations including, but not limited to, being a member of the negotiating team; nor shall the district administrator including the director of personnel, or school board attorney be present with the school board in closed session when negotiation strategies are being discussed; provided, however, that the administrator including the director of personnel, or a school board attorney may serve as a technical resource to the negotiating team and may provide technical information necessary to the collective bargaining process when no one else in the district can provide such information; and
(5) a provision prohibiting a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney, or a board member, who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district from participating in any way in negotiations including, but not limited to, being a member of the negotiating team or being present with the school board in closed sessions when negotiation strategies are being discussed, prior to the school board attaining a tentative memorandum of agreement with the bargaining unit that includes a salary guide and total compensation package. Once the tentative memorandum of agreement is established, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or school board attorney with a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may fully participate in the process, absent other conflicts. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph to the contrary, a district administrator including a director of personnel, or a school board attorney who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district may serve as a technical resource to the negotiating team and may provide technical information necessary to the collective bargaining process when no one else in the district can provide such information.
c. A school district or county vocational school district may exclude per diem substitutes and student employees from its board nepotism policy .
2. The board of trustees of a charter school shall adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The policy shall comply with the provisions of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and apply to members of the board of trustees and administrators of the charter school.
3. This act shall take effect 1[immediately] on the 60th day after the date of enactment1.
