N.J. Stat. tit. 52, ch. 11

N.J. Stat. tit. 52, ch. 11
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-1 President of senate to exercise powers of vice president of council

The powers, privileges, duties and remunerations granted to or imposed by law upon the vice president of the council at and immediately prior to the time of the taking effect of the present constitution, shall be exercised, enjoyed and performed by the president of the senate, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the present constitution.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-2 Officers and employees of senate and their compensation

The officers and employees of the senate, other than the presiding officer, shall be those named herein, and no others, who shall severally receive the annual compensation specified herein, which compensation shall be in full payment of all their services, subject to the deductions provided by section 52:11-4 of this title: Secretary of the senate, twenty-five hundred dollars. Assistant secretary of the senate, twelve hundred dollars. President's secretary, one thousand dollars. Chaplain, three hundred dollars. Supervisor of bills, twelve hundred dollars. Assistant supervisor of bills, six hundred dollars. Second assistant supervisor of bills, five hundred dollars. Journal clerk, one thousand dollars. Assistant journal clerk, five hundred dollars. Second assistant journal clerk, four hundred dollars. Calendar clerk, five hundred dollars. Bill clerk, five hundred dollars. Assistant bill clerk, five hundred dollars. Sergeant at arms, seven hundred dollars. Assistant sergeant at arms, five hundred dollars. Clerk to committee on printed bills, five hundred dollars. Clerk to committee on appropriations, five hundred dollars. Clerk to committee on stationery and incidentals, two hundred dollars. Secretary to committee on appropriations, five hundred dollars. Four clerks to committees, to be assigned to duty by the secretary of the senate, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Four stenographers, five hundred dollars each. Five doorkeepers, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Three gallery keepers, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Four file clerks, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Six pages, two hundred dollars each.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-2.1 Sergeant-at-arms; tenure

Any person holding or who shall hold the office, position or employment of sergeant-at-arms of the Senate of this State and who has served or shall have served for 20 years or more either consecutively or in the aggregate, shall continue to hold such office, position or employment during good behavior and shall not be removed therefrom, except for good cause shown after a fair and impartial hearing. L.1962, c. 68, s. 1, eff. June 4, 1962.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-2.2 Journal clerk; tenure

Any person holding or who shall hold the office, position or employment of journal clerk to the Senate of this State and who has served or shall have served for 20 consecutive years or more, shall continue to hold such office, position or employment during good behavior and efficiency and shall not be removed therefrom, except for good cause shown after a fair and impartial hearing. L.1962, c. 69, s. 1, eff. June 4, 1962.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-3 Officers and employees of house of assembly and their compensation

The officers and employees of the house of assembly, except the presiding officer, shall be those named herein, and no others, who shall severally receive the annual compensation specified herein, which compensation shall be in full payment of all their services, subject to the deductions provided by section 52:11-4 of this title: Clerk of the house, twenty-five hundred dollars. Assistant clerk, twelve hundred dollars. Calendar clerk, five hundred dollars. Speaker's secretary, one thousand dollars. Speaker's assistant secretary, five hundred dollars. Journal clerk, one thousand dollars. Two assistant journal clerks, five hundred dollars each. Supervisor of bills, thirteen hundred dollars. Three assistant supervisors of bills, six hundred dollars each. Sergeant at arms, seven hundred dollars. Two assistant sergeants at arms, five hundred dollars each. Bill clerk and one assistant bill clerk, five hundred dollars each. Clerk to committee on printed bills, five hundred dollars. Twelve clerks to committees, to be assigned to duty by the clerk of the house, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Three stenographers, five hundred dollars each. Clerk to majority leader and clerk to minority leader, five hundred dollars each. Twelve doorkeepers, three hundred and fifty dollars each. Fifteen file clerks, three hundred dollars each. Ten pages, two hundred dollars each.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-4 Record of attendance; deduction from compensation for absences

The sergeant at arms of each house of the legislature shall keep a record of the attendance at each session of either house of all of its officers and employees whose compensation is fixed by sections 52:11-2 and 52:11-3 of this title, except: a. The secretary of the senate, the assistant secretary of the senate, the secretary to the president of the senate and the chaplain of the senate; b. The clerk and the assistant clerk of the house, and the secretary and the assistant secretary to the speaker of the house; c. The journal clerks, the supervisors of bills and the sergeants at arms of the senate and the house; and d. The secretaries and clerks of the committees of the senate and the house. Any officer or employee whose record of attendance is required to be kept as herein provided shall, for each day that he may be absent during any portion of a session, be marked absent on the record, unless his absence is excused by the presiding officer of the respective houses or such person as the presiding officers may designate for that purpose. The total compensation of each officer or employee whose record of attendance is required to be kept as herein provided shall be reduced in the proportion that the number of days of unexcused absence, as shown by the record, bears to the number of days that the house of which he is an officer or employee has been in regular session.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5 One-half compensation payable in advance of session; balance at close of session

The officers and employees of the senate and house of assembly, whose compensation is fixed by sections 52:11-2 and 52:11-3 of this title, may draw from the treasury, at the opening of the regular annual session of the legislature, a sum not to exceed one-half of their fixed compensation, and the balance thereof, less any deductions that may have been charged against them, shall be paid within ten days after the final adjournment of the regular session.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5a Findings, declarations relative to plaques honoring Senator Hutchins F. Inge and Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. In 1966, Dr. Hutchins F. Inge of Newark became the first African-American to serve in the New Jersey State Senate and in 1921, Dr. Walter Gilbert Alexander of Orange became the first African-American to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly; b. At the time Senator Inge took office, he had already established himself as a distinguished citizen of our State, having graduated from both the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Howard University School of Medicine and serving on the staff of Presbyterian Hospital; c. Senator Inge had also served his community with distinction, as a director of the Essex Urban League and the New Jersey Association for Retarded Children, and as a staff physician for the Newark Board of Health's Division of Child Hygiene; d. During Senator Inge's tenure in the Senate, he served as the chairman of the Senate Federal and Interstate Relations Committee, and was a supporter of measures to aid education, transportation, and housing; e. Walter Gilbert Alexander was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on December 3, 1880, and was the son of former slaves; f. At the age of fourteen, he entered Lincoln University as the youngest student in his class and the youngest student that had ever matriculated at that university; g. Walter Gilbert Alexander graduated from Lincoln University magna cum laude in 1899, having won the Bradley Medal in natural science and being honored as the Latin Salutatorian of his class; h. After graduation, he entered the Boston College of Physicians and Surgeons, and graduated in June 1903 after winning first prize for his thesis; i. A distinguished physician, he served as General Secretary and later President of the National Medical Association; j. During Assemblyman Alexander's tenure in the Assembly, he served on committees concerning epileptics and public health, and sponsored legislation addressing civil rights and health care; k. In March 1921, Assemblyman Alexander was honored by his fellow lawmakers who asked him to preside over the Assembly for thirty minutes, while a laudatory resolution commending him on his legislative service was read; l. It is fitting and proper that this State honor Senator Hutchins F. Inge and Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander by placing plaques in the State House to commemorate their tenure as members of the New Jersey Legislature. L.2007, c.64, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5b Display of plaques.

2. Plaques to honor Senator Hutchins F. Inge, New Jersey's first African-American State Senator, and Assemblyman Walter Gilbert Alexander, New Jersey's first African-American Assemblyman, shall be displayed in the State House at Trenton. L.2007, c.64, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5.1 Legislator's district office, prohibition against employment of relatives.

1. No member of the Legislature shall gainfully employ his or her relative in any position in the legislative office that the member maintains in his or her legislative district. If members of the Legislature jointly maintain a legislative district office, no relative of the members who maintain that joint office shall be gainfully employed in any position in that office. As used in this section, "relative" means the member's spouse or the member's or spouse's parent, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother or half sister, whether the individual is related to the member or the member's spouse by blood, marriage or adoption. L.2003,c.307,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5.2 Legislators, enrollment in health care benefits, election, limitations.

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a member of the Legislature who elects health benefits coverage based on service in the Legislature shall not enroll as the primary insured for health benefits for which the member is eligible through any other public entity, and shall not accept any amount of money in consideration for filing a waiver of coverage. L.2003,c.308,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-5.3 Annual salary for certain executive directors.

3. a. The annual salary of the executive director of each full time legislative staff operating under the direction of the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of each House of the Legislature shall be fixed and established by the President of the Senate and by the Speaker of the General Assembly, as appropriate, for each director in any amount that the President or Speaker determines to be appropriate for that director, but shall not exceed $210,000 in calendar year 2024 and thereafter. b. The annual salary of the executive director of the Office of Legislative Services operating under the direction of the Legislative Services Commission shall be fixed and established to be consistent with the annual salary of the executive directors of the full time legislative staff operating under the direction of the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of each House of the Legislature, but shall not exceed $210,000 in calendar year 2024 and thereafter. L.2018, c.14, s.3; amended 2023, c.349, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-20.4 Repeals

13. The following acts or parts thereof are repealed: (a) Chapter 171, P.L.1950; (b) Chapter 11, P.L.1952; (c) Chapter 305, P.L.1953; and (d) Section 22 of chapter 254, P.L.1954. L.1964, c. 20, s. 13, supplementing Laws 1954, Chapter 254.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-54 Short title

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Legislative Services Law of 1978." L.1979, c. 8, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-55 Legislative Services Commission, Office of Legislative Services

There is established in the Legislative Branch of the State Government, to aid and assist the Legislature in performing its functions, an agency of the Legislature, to be known as the "Office of Legislative Services" to be governed by a commission to be known as the Legislative Services Commission, hereinafter referred to as "the commission," to consist of eight members of the Senate to be appointed by the President thereof and eight members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker thereof for terms coextensive with their respective terms as members of the House from which they shall be appointed. All members shall serve until the appointment and qualification of their respective successors. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments were made. No more than four of each group of eight members shall be appointed from members of the same political party. The commission and the agency shall be deemed to be a continuous body and no action taken by the commission or the office shall be abrogated by reason of the termination of the terms of the members of the commission. L.1979, c. 8, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-56 Organization and meetings of the commission

Organization and meetings of the commission. a. The commission shall meet for the purpose of organization in the month of January of each even-numbered year and shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members, who shall hold office for the duration of that two-year Legislature and after the expiration of the second legislative year until their successors shall be elected and qualify. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. b. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and no matter requiring action by the full commission shall be taken except by the affirmative vote of not less than nine members. The commission may create from among its membership and prescribe the jurisdiction of an executive committee and such other standing and special committees, which shall be composed of members equally divided between the two Houses and the two major political parties, and delegate to such committees, its chairman and vice-chairman and executive director specified authority to act for the commission. c. In addition to its organization meetings, the commission shall meet at least once in each calendar quarter and at other times at the call of its chairman. Upon the written request of at least nine members the secretary shall notice a special meeting of the commission. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 3. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 1, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-57 Duties of the commission

Duties of the commission. a. It is the duty and responsibility of the commission: (1) To carry on the work of continuous revision of the general and permanent statute law of the State, by causing to be conducted a continuous examination thereof and of the judicial decisions construing the same, and by causing to be prepared and to be submitted to the Legislature for its action thereon from time to time legislative bills designed to revise such portions of the general and permanent statute law as in the judgment of the commission may be necessary to remedy defects therein, to accomplish improvement thereof and to maintain the same in revised, consolidated and simplified form under the general plan and classification of the Revised Statutes; (2) To provide accurate budgetary, fiscal and program performance, evaluation and analysis, legal assistance, information and advice and informatory and research services to the standing reference, joint and special legislative committees and commissions and to the officers and members of the Legislature; (3) To study the methods, practices and procedures employed by the Legislature and from time to time make such recommendations for their improvement and modernization as the commission shall deem desirable; (4) Through the Office of Legislative Services to plan, provide for and coordinate administrative, housekeeping and other general services on behalf of the Legislature in the areas of purchasing, data processing, facilities, public educational programs and legislative district offices in accordance with the joint rules governing the operation of the district offices. b. The commission is hereby designated as the permanent law revision agency of the State and all proposed revision laws and proposals of like character which are developed as a result of any legislative commission or committee shall be submitted to the commission for examination and study and report, including its recommendations, to the Legislature, before being introduced in the Legislature. c. The officers and employees of the Office of Legislative Services shall, except as otherwise fixed by law, receive such compensation as shall from time to time be fixed by the commission in accordance with a compensation plan to be established by it and as shall be within the limits of available appropriations therefor. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 4. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 2, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-57.1 Preparation of racial and ethnic impact statement for certain proposed legislation.

2. a. The Legislative Services Commission shall direct the Office of Legislative Services to prepare a racial and ethnic community criminal justice and public safety impact statement for each proposed criminal justice bill, resolution, or amendment that would affect pretrial detention, sentencing, probation, or parole policies concerning adults and juveniles in this State including, but not limited to, any bill, resolution, or amendment that establishes a new crime or offense; modifies a crime or offense or the penalties associated with a crime or offense established under current law; or modifies procedures under current law for sentencing, parole, or probation, prior to any vote being taken on the bill, resolution, or amendment in either House of the Legislature. b. The racial and ethnic community criminal justice and public safety impact statement required in subsection a. of this section shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed legislation on racial and ethnic minorities, including whether it is likely to have a disproportionate or unique impact on the racial and ethnic communities in the State and the rationale, if any, for the proposed legislation having an identifiable impact on racial and ethnic persons in this State, a statistical analysis of how the change in policy would affect racial and ethnic minorities, the impact of the change in policy on correctional facilities and services for racial and ethnic minorities, the estimated number of criminal and juvenile justice matters involving racial and ethnic minorities adjudicated each year, and the anticipated effect of the change in policy on public safety in racial and ethnic communities in the State and for victims and potential victims in those communities. c. State agencies shall make data available to the Office of Legislative Services for the purposes of preparing racial and ethnic community criminal justice and public safety impact statements. L.2017, c.286, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-58 Organization of the Office of Legislative Services

Organization of the Office of Legislative Services. a. The Office of Legislative Services shall be governed by the commission and shall consist of such subordinate units as the commission shall direct and such officers, employees and consultants as may, from time to time within the availability of funds, be appointed or employed by direction of the commission. b. In addition to the duties imposed upon the Executive Director, the Legislative Counsel, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, the State Auditor and the Director of Public Information by law, it shall be the duty of the Office of Legislative Services to: (1) Provide, upon request, legal, fiscal, research, information and administrative services and assistance for the Legislature, its officers, committees, commissions, members and staff. (2) Assist in the preparation or review of drafts of bills, resolutions and amendments thereof proposed for introduction in the Legislature or other legislative documents for and upon the request of any member, committee, commission or staff of the Legislature. (3) Provide nonpartisan staff for the standing reference committees and other committees and commissions of the Legislature, except those which by law, rule or resolution of either House or direction of the Legislative Services Commission are independent of the office. (4) Collect, prepare and disseminate to the Legislature, its officers, committees, commissions, members and staff, such information, reports, publications and documents as shall be of concern or interest to or have an impact upon the Legislature or the legislative process. (5) Provide such other services as the commission may direct. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 5. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 3, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-59 Executive Director

Executive Director. The commission shall appoint an Executive Director to serve as the secretary of the commission and as the chief executive officer of the commission and the Office of Legislative Services, who shall be qualified by training and experience in legislative and governmental processes. He shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office. He shall organize the office with such subordinate units as shall be necessary for the duties and responsibilities of the office and shall be responsible for the general supervision and direction of the work of the office. Subject to commission approval the Executive Director shall employ professional and clerical personnel, including associate and assistant counsel, revisers of statutes, auditors, and research and fiscal analysts, and shall provide for the assignment of personnel to aid in the performance of any project or responsibility of the office. The Executive Director shall be the appointing authority and request officer for the office. The Executive Director shall inform the commission of the need for or usefulness of advisory panels to assist the commission and the office in its duties and to cooperate with all advisory panels appointed under the provisions of this act. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 6. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 4, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-60 Legislative Counsel

Legislative Counsel. The commission shall appoint a Legislative Counsel, who shall be an attorney-at-law of New Jersey experienced in legislative law, drafting legislation, revision of statutes and parliamentary law and procedure. He shall be the chief legal officer of the Legislature and counsel to the commission and Office of Legislative Services. He shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office. Wherever in any other law a duty is imposed upon or reference is made to the Chief Counsel of the Law Revision and Legislative Services Commission, such duty is transferred to and shall be exercised by, and reference thereto shall be to, the Legislative Counsel in the Office of Legislative Services. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 7. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 5, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-61 Duties of Legislative Counsel.

8. It shall be the duty of the Legislative Counsel: a. To provide general standards for the office to draft, aid in drafting and redrafting bills, resolutions and amendments thereof, and reviewing the same when drafted elsewhere, proposed for introduction in the Legislature and other legislative documents for and upon the request of any legislative commission or of any member, committee or joint committee of the Legislature; b. To provide general standards for the office to examine and edit legislative bills, proposed for introduction or introduced from time to time in the Senate and General Assembly so as to assure, whenever possible, their compliance with the form and general classification of the Revised Statutes, when so requested or directed by the Legislature or any committee thereof; c. To furnish assistance and information to the Legislature or any member or committee thereof or to the departments, officers, institutions and agencies of the State and to the public in legal matters concerning the statutes, when so requested; d. To receive drafts of legislative bills with suggestions and recommendations from the New Jersey Law Revision Commission for the improvement and modification of the general and permanent statute law of the State, and to examine and edit those bills in the same manner as it would other bills under this section; e. To furnish to the presiding officer of each House of the Legislature or to the committees, joint committees and members of the Legislature, legal assistance, information and advice when and in relation to such matters as the commission shall from time to time determine, relating to (1) The subject matter and legal effect of the statutes and of proposals made for statutory enactment, and (2) Questions of parliamentary law and legislative procedure; f. Upon the written request of either or both Houses of the Legislature, the presiding officer of either House, the majority or minority leader of either House, a legislative committee or commission, to furnish formal written opinions on legal matters; g. On behalf of the commission to assign appropriate compilation numbers to newly-enacted laws, edit an annual cumulative table of contents to the laws, and initiate administrative corrections in the text of the laws as authorized and directed by R.S.1:3-1 and R.S.1:3-2; h. To provide the prime sponsor or prime sponsors, as the case may be, of a legislative bill, joint resolution or concurrent resolution, or amendment thereto, as well as the prime sponsor or prime sponsors, as the case may be, of an identical legislative bill, joint resolution or concurrent resolution, or amendment thereto, at the same time as provided to the requester of a written opinion under this section, with advice of any legal defects, constitutional, procedural or otherwise, of which the Legislative Counsel is aware, notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 of this act (C.52:11-70); and i. To perform such other duties and responsibilities as shall be directed by the commission or provided by law or House rule. L.1979,c.8,s.8; amended 1985, c.162, s.6; 1985, c.498, s.11; 1999, c.244.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-62 State Auditor

State Auditor. The office of the State Auditor, as created by the Constitution, is assigned to the Office of Legislative Services. The State Auditor shall continue to be appointed, subject to the statutory qualifications prescribed by R.S. 52:24-2, and shall hold office and perform his constitutional duties, as heretofore. The State Auditor, in addition to his constitutional duties, shall organize the office of the State Auditor with such subordinate units as required and shall be responsible for administering and directing the further statutory duties imposed by this act, subject to the policy direction and control of the Legislative Services Commission and the supervision and direction of the Executive Director. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 9. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 7, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-63 Studies, reports by State Auditor

In addition to the duties imposed upon the State Auditor by the Constitution and R.S. 52:24-4 the State Auditor, when requested or directed by the Legislature or the Legislative Services Commission, shall make, or cause to be made by contract with independent firms or consultants, studies and reports with respect to the economy, internal management control, and compliance with laws and regulations of the operation of State or State-supported agencies and shall perform such other duties and functions as the commission shall, from time to time, direct or assign. Audit reports shall provide full disclosure of the results of financial operations, adequate financial information needed in the management of State operations and effective control over income, expenditures, funds, property and other assets and whether the financial transactions have been consummated in accordance with laws, regulations or other legal requirements, and adequate internal financial control over operations is exercised. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 10. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 8, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-64 Award of contracts by Office of Legislative Services

a. Contracts for consultants' services. The provisions of any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, every contract or agreement for consultants' services to be paid from funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Office of Legislative Services shall be made or awarded only by specific approval of the commission. b. Contracts for goods and services. The provisions of any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, every contract for goods or services to be paid for from funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Office of Legislative Services may be made, negotiated and awarded directly by the Office of Legislative Services. These contracts shall follow the procedures for public advertisement for bids, the exceptions thereto and the waiver procedures set forth in sections 3 through 7 of P.L. 1954, c. 48 (C. 52:34-8 through 52:34-12) and the provisions set forth in sections 10, 13 and 14 of P.L. 1954, c. 48 (C. 52:34-15, 52:34-18 and 52:34-19). The Office of Legislative Services shall employ the administrative and technical assistance of the Division of Purchase and Property, or its successor, in the Department of the Treasury, to make and negotiate these contracts. The Division of Purchase and Property, or its successor, in the Department of the Treasury shall provide the administrative and technical assistance to the Office of Legislative Services in making and negotiating these contracts, but shall do so in consultation with and with the approval of the office. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 11. Amended by L. 1985, c. 98, s. 1, eff. March 29, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-65 Director of Public Information

The commission shall appoint a Director of Public Information, who shall by training and experience be well-versed in public information services and legislative and governmental processes. He shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director and shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office. He shall organize the legislative public information services with subordinate units necessary for the work of his office. The director shall be responsible for providing nonpartisan information and information services to the officers and members of the Legislature and to all standing reference, joint and special committees and commissions of the Legislature, except as otherwise provided by this act or by determination of the commission or the Legislature. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 12. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 9, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-66 Duties of Director of Public Information

13. It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Information to: a. Provide, as requested, information and other related services for the Legislature, its officers, committees, commissions and individual members. b. Operate a nonpartisan public information service on legislative affairs and a Bill Room for use by the Legislature, its staff, other State and public offices and, when practicable, for the general public. c. Provide, when requested by the Legislature and directed by the commission, for the scheduling, recording and transcription of the proceedings of legislative committee and commission meetings and hearings. d. Provide for the maintenance of a library and library services with special emphasis on legislative reference materials for the use of the Legislature and its staff. e. Plan, develop and coordinate programs regarding the interaction of the Legislature with the public, including public communication, orientation and tours and educational programs. f. Provide general standards for the Office of Legislative Services in providing information to the public. g. Maintain a public commercial subscription service for bills, laws and other information. h. Provide such other services as the commission or Executive Director may direct or as shall be provided by law or House rule. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 13. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 10, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-67 Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer. The commission shall appoint a Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, who by training and experience shall be well-versed in the fields of budget preparation and analysis, revenue projection, appropriation requirements, program analysis and fiscal management and control. The Legislative Budget and Finance Officer shall be the chief fiscal officer of the Legislature and the commission. He shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office and shall be under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director. Whenever in any other law reference is made to the Legislative Budget and Finance Director, the Executive Director of the Office of Fiscal Affairs or the Legislative Budget Officer, such reference thereto shall be to the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer in the Office of Legislative Services. L.1979, c.8, s.14; amended 1985, c.162, s.11, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-68 Duties of Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

It shall be the duty of the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer to: a. At the request of the Legislature or any member thereof, collect and assemble factual information relating to the fiscal affairs of the State; b. At the request of the Legislature or any member thereof, examine requests for appropriations and receive and investigate the truth, fairness and correctness of all claims against the State for payment of which appropriations are to be requested; c. Report to the Legislature through the Joint Appropriations Committee, or in such other manner as shall be directed by the Legislature, upon the foregoing and as to any other matter which may be of assistance to said committee or the Legislature in forming an independent judgment in the determination of any fiscal matters before it and attend upon the Joint Appropriations Committee during its sittings and hearings and perform such services for it as it shall direct; d. Provide the Legislature with expenditure information and, upon request, performance analyses of programs and transactions. L. 1979, c. 8, s. 15. Amended by L. 1985, c. 162, s. 12, eff. May 2, 1985.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-69 Officers and employees of the office; status

a. The commission is authorized to designate those offices and positions in Office of Legislative Services which for the purposes of the Unemployment Compensation law are major nontenured policy making or advisory positions. b. Officers and employees of the office shall be chosen subject to the approval of the commission without reference to political affiliation, solely on grounds of fitness to perform the duties of their office or employment and their employment and civil service status shall be governed by subsection d. of R.S. 11:4-4, except that: (1) Any person holding office, position or employment in any department, board, commission or agency in the Executive Branch of the State Government, which is in the classified service of the civil service, who shall be appointed to any office, position or employment under the Legislative Services Commission shall, after the adoption of a resolution by the Legislative Services Commission to that effect, hold the office, position or employment to which he is so appointed with the same civil service rights, privileges and protections as he had and enjoyed in said office, position or employment in the Executive Branch of the State Government, notwithstanding that the office, position or employment to which he is so appointed shall itself be in the unclassified service of the civil service; and (2) Employees performing stenographic or clerical duties may be appointed from the classified service of the civil service of the State in any case in which in the judgment of the commission more competent persons can be so employed and when so appointed such employees shall have civil service status as members of the classified service of the civil service, but no law or rule regulating assignment to duties, hours of work or payment for overtime shall be binding upon the agency as to persons employed by it whether or not they are employed from the classified service of the civil service. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 16.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-70 Request for assistance, information or advice, confidential

All requests for legal assistance, information or advice and all information received by the Office of Legislative Services in connection with any request for fiscal, budgetary or research service or for the drafting or redrafting of bills, resolutions or amendments thereof for introduction in the Legislature shall be regarded as confidential and no information in respect thereto shall be given to the public or to any person other than the person or persons making such request or any officer or person duly authorized to have such information, unless and until the person making such request consents thereto or the subject matter thereof shall have been made public in some manner. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 17.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-71 Forbids lobbying

No officer or employee of the office, other than a member of the commission, shall urge or oppose the adoption of any legislation or give any legal opinion to any private individual or corporation or to any public officer, department, instrumentality or agency of the State Government except as provided in this act and except such officers, members, committees and joint committees of the Legislature as the commission shall, from time to time, direct. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 18.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-72 Reports

The commission shall report to the Legislature once each year and at such other times as it may deem advisable and may accompany its report with proposed bills or changes in the Rules of the Senate and General Assembly designed to carry out any of its recommendations. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 19.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-73 Personnel transferred; rules continued

All of the officers and employees of the Legislative Services Agency and the Office of Fiscal Affairs together with all their functions, powers and duties are transferred to the Office of Legislative Services and the officers and employees shall be assigned to positions therein without diminution in compensation or seniority rights or impairment of tenure, civil service or retirement system rights. All rules, regulations and operating procedures of the Legislative Services Agency and the Office of Fiscal Affairs in effect on the effective date of this act are continued in effect until amended or repealed pursuant to this act. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 20.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-74 Property transferred

All property and equipment, books, files and documents of, or in the custody of the Legislative Services Agency or the Office of Fiscal Affairs are transferred to the Office of Legislative Services. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 21.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-75 Appropriations transferred

All appropriations, grants and other moneys available and to become available to the Legislative Services Agency and the Office of Fiscal Affairs are transferred to the Office of Legislative Services. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 22.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-76 Powers and duties of Legislative Budget Officer under Appropriations Act

Except as otherwise in this act provided all powers and duties imposed upon the Executive Director, Office of Fiscal Affairs, by any other law are transferred to and shall be exercised by the Legislative Budget Officer in the Office of Legislative Services and all other references in any such act to the Executive Director, Office of Fiscal Affairs, shall mean and refer to the Legislative Budget Officer. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 23.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-77 Initial members and officers of commission; terms of office

The members of the Law Revision and Legislative Services Commission and its chairman and vice chairman in office on the effective date of this act shall constitute the first members and officers of the commission and shall so serve for the terms for which they were appointed to, or elected by, the former commission. Laws 1979, c. 8, s. 31.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-78 Legislative information available to public, maintained in electronic form.

1. a. The Office of Legislative Services shall make available to the public and maintain in electronic form the following information: (1) the most current available compilation of the official text of the statutes of New Jersey; (2) the text of all bills introduced during the current two-year session of the Legislature, including amended versions, as well as sponsor statements, committee statements, and fiscal notes; (3) all bills currently pending in the Legislature, listed by subject and sponsor; (4) bill-tracking data on all bills pending in the Legislature, including the history of actions, current status, a complete voting record, including individual votes by members of the Legislature recorded during committee meetings, updated on a daily basis and made available and maintained for the two-year legislative term in progress and the immediately preceding term, and, where appropriate, by citation of the section of law to be amended by a bill; (5) a current calendar of legislative events, including the schedule of legislative committee meetings, and a list of bills scheduled for legislative action; (6) a current directory of the members of the Legislature, including complete committee membership information; (7) the text of all chapter laws beginning with laws passed by the Legislature after 12:00 noon, January 9, 1996; and (8) such other information as the Legislative Services Commission shall direct. b. The information specified in subsection a. of this section shall be made available to the public through the largest nonproprietary cooperative public computer network. c. The Office of Legislative Services shall not impose a fee or usage charge as a condition of accessing the information specified in subsection a. of this section through the network described in subsection b. of this section. d. The Office of Legislative Services may offer a fee-based electronic legislative information service which may include, in addition to the information specified in subsection a. of this section, the following information and capabilities: (1) the ability for users to automatically maintain updated private databases and receive notification of scheduled action on specific bills or subject matter; (2) the ability for users to retrieve information by various means of searching full text; and (3) archives of bill texts and related information from prior sessions of the Legislature. e. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a private individual or entity from using the information specified in subsection a. of this section to provide, either commercially or on a voluntary basis, services similar to those provided by the Office of Legislative Services pursuant to subsection d. of this section. f. The Office of Legislative Services shall consult with the appropriate office within the executive branch of the State government responsible for computer security and guidelines in order to provide the information specified in subsection a. of this section on the largest nonproprietary cooperative public computer network, and both offices shall take all appropriate security measures, subject to the approval of the Legislative Services Commission or the designee thereof, to protect the computer systems that provide access to and store the information specified in subsection a. of this section. g. No fee shall be charged to the Office of Legislative Services by the appropriate office within the executive branch of the State government responsible for computer security and guidelines for services rendered related to this act. L.1995, c.319; amended 2007, c.160.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-79 Findings, declarations relative to Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. graduate students in this State who have an interest in government, law, politics and public policy should have an opportunity to learn about and participate in State government and the legislative process; b. the establishment of a Legislative Fellows Program to enable participation by these students will foster awareness and appreciation in younger citizens of this State of how laws are created, and encourage these students to be involved with State government throughout their careers; c. a Legislative Fellows Program would serve the Legislature's need for staff assistance during the most demanding period of the legislative session; and d. a Legislative Fellows Program would benefit legislative staff agencies' recruitment efforts for regular staff. L.2000,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-80 Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program.

2. There is established the Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers, The State University. Students enrolled in graduate programs of Rutgers University shall be selected to participate in the program as fellows. L.2000,c.44,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-81 Selection, assignment of fellows; stipend.

3. Eight fellows shall be selected each year pursuant to section 5 of this act, and shall be assigned to work with the New Jersey Legislature as follows: four Fellows shall be assigned to work in the Office of Legislative Services; one Fellow shall be assigned to work in the Senate Majority Office; one Fellow shall be assigned to work in the Senate Minority Office; one Fellow shall be assigned to work in the General Assembly Majority Office; and one Fellow shall be assigned to work in the General Assembly Minority Office. Each fellow shall receive a stipend during the period of internship with the Legislature. L.2000,c.44,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-82 Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program Advisory Committee.

4. There is established a Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program Advisory Committee, consisting of the following members: the Executive Director of the Office of Legislative Services; the Executive Director of the Senate Majority Office; the Executive Director of the Senate Minority Office; the Executive Director of the General Assembly Majority Office; the Executive Director of the General Assembly Minority Office; and five members of the Rutgers University faculty, to be appointed by the Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers University. L.2000,c.44,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-83 Appointment of director.

5. The Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers University shall appoint the director of the Henry J. Raimondo New Jersey Legislative Fellows Program, who shall administer the program and, with the aid of the advisory committee, recruit and select the fellows. L.2000,c.44,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-84 Tuition, fee support; matching appropriations.

6. Rutgers University shall provide tuition and fee support for the fellows for the academic year. The State shall appropriate funds in each fiscal year to finance the stipends provided to fellows pursuant to section 3 of this act in an amount equal to the annual tuition and fee support provided by Rutgers University in that academic year. L.2000,c.44,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 52:11-85 Adoption, maintenance of policy by the Legislature regarding sexual harassment.

1. a. Each House of the Legislature and the Office of Legislative Services shall adopt and maintain a policy that: prohibits sexual harassment by members, officers, and employees of the Legislature; requires compliance with the policy; requires that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that prohibited conduct does not occur; and provides procedures for the reporting, investigation, final determination, remediation, and discipline of prohibited conduct. The policy shall include provisions regarding confidentiality, retaliation, and false accusations. The policy shall be adopted in any manner deemed appropriate by the presiding officer of each House and the executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, as appropriate. The policy, whether a separate policy adopted independently by each House and the Office of Legislative Services, or as one policy adopted jointly thereby, shall apply to all members of the Legislature, and all officers and employees, including supervisors and managers, of the partisan staff offices, district offices, Office of Legislative Services, Office of Clerk of the General Assembly, and Office of the Secretary of the Senate, as appropriate. The policy adopted by the Office of Legislative Services shall apply to any agency, board, bureau, or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch. b. The policy shall be distributed to all members, officers, and employees to whom it applies. Initially, the policy shall be distributed to current members, officers, and employees within 60 calendar days of the effective date of this section, unless a policy that conforms with subsection a. of this section was distributed within 180 days preceding enactment of this act, P.L.2019, c.475. Thereafter, the policy shall be distributed to a member, officer, or employee within five business days of taking office or commencing employment. Any member, officer, or employee to whom the policy is distributed shall acknowledge receipt thereof in writing to the presiding officer of each House or to the executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, as appropriate, or a designee thereof, within 10 business days of receipt. c. The policy shall be reviewed at least once every two years. Modifications shall be adopted in the same manner as provided for the adoption of the policy. The policy as modified shall be distributed to all members, officers, and employees to whom it applies within 30 calendar days of modification. Members, officers, and employees shall acknowledge in writing to the presiding officer of each House or to the executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, as appropriate, or a designee thereof, the receipt of the modified policy within 10 business days of receipt. d. The director of human resources of the Office of Legislative Services shall prepare and maintain an online training program on any policy adopted. Each member, officer, and employee to whom the policy applies shall complete the online or another approved training program, as determined by the presiding officer of each House and by the executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, as appropriate, no less than once every two years, and shall submit a certification denoting completion thereof. A member of the Legislature shall submit the certification of completion for the member and the member's district office staff to the executive director, or a designee thereof, in the partisan staff office of the member's House and political party. Officers and employees of a partisan staff office shall submit the certification of completion to the executive director of that office, or a designee thereof. Officers and employees of the Secretary of the Senate and of the Clerk of the General Assembly shall submit the certification of completion to the Secretary and Clerk, as appropriate. Officers and employees of the Office of Legislative Services shall submit the certification of completion to the director of human resources of that office. Members, officers, and employees of any agency, board, bureau, or commission within or created by the Legislative Branch for whom a person has not already been designated to receive the certification of completion pursuant to this subsection shall submit the certification to the director of human resources of the Office of Legislative Services. All certifications of completion shall be public information. e. The Office of Legislative Services shall publish any adopted policy on the official website of the Legislature, along with the contact information for its human resources office. L.2019, c.475.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026

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