Bill Text: NJ SR41 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges part-time members of State or local government boards, commissions, and authorities to waive portion of compensation received and reimburse public entity for pension contribution.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-14 - Reviewed by the Pension and Health Benefits Commission Recommend to enact [SR41 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR41-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Urges part-time members of State or local government boards, commissions, and authorities to waive portion of compensation received and reimburse public entity for pension contribution.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging part-time members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments to waive a portion of the compensation received for their services and to reimburse the public entity for its contribution to a State-administered retirement system for their membership.
Whereas, The State of New Jersey is experiencing a severe budget crisis that required significant reductions in expenditures in Fiscal Year 2009 and very difficult decisions on budget allocations for Fiscal Year 2010, with Fiscal Year 2011 also to be a very difficult year; and
Whereas, Governor Corzine required State employees to take furlough days in order to contribute to reductions in expenditures in Fiscal Year 2009 and Fiscal Year 2010; and
Whereas, During that time Senate President Codey and General Assembly Speaker Roberts announced that State legislators and employees in the Legislative Branch would take unpaid furlough days to help close the budget gap resulting from lower than expected revenues; and
Whereas, It is appropriate at this time for everyone who provides services for the State or for local governments to share fairly in the sacrifices being made as the State, local governments, and taxpayers grapple with the devastating economic conditions we are all facing; and
Whereas, Members of several boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments are required to meet just a few times a year in return for a salary or a per diem payment, membership in a State-administered retirement system, and health care benefits provided by the public entity; and
Whereas, Many members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments have other sources of income and are in positions that enable them to bear the financial burden, including any potential tax or benefit consequences, that may be caused by waiving a portion of the salary or per diem payment they receive for their services; and
Whereas, It is only fair to ask those who were fortunate enough to have secured positions on publicly-funded boards, commissions, and authorities to contribute to the collective effort to get through this economic downturn, even if the amount of the contribution may be relatively small in some instances; and
Whereas, The members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments who provide their services on a part-time basis equivalent to less than 25 hours per week should waive three-months' worth of the salary or per diem payments they receive in a fiscal year, and should reimburse the public entity for the portion, that represents their membership, of the annual contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system; and
Whereas, This is not the time for anyone to be standing on the sidelines watching while others take action to deal with the problems at hand because we will only get through this difficult time if we all work and contribute together; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State, and of any political subdivision of the State, who provide service on a part-time basis that is equivalent to less than 25 hours of work per week and who receive a salary or a per diem payment for that service to waive the receipt of an amount equivalent to three months of the salary or per diem payment received in each fiscal year. The House also urges that such members reimburse the boards, commissions, and authorities for the portion, that represents that member's membership, of the annual contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system.
2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and the New Jersey Association of Counties.
STATEMENT
This Senate Resolution urges members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State and of local governments in this State, who provide service on a part-time basis for less than 25 hours per week and who receive a salary or a per diem payment for that service to waive the receipt of an amount equivalent to three months of the salary or per diem payment received in each fiscal year. The House also urges that such members reimburse the boards, commissions, and authorities for the portion, that represents the member's membership, of the annual contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system
