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Bill > S1721
NJ S1721
NJ S1721Permits certain municipalities to appoint persons separate from civil service eligible list under certain circumstances.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Currently, when a municipality requests an eligible list of hires from the Civil Service Commission to fill a vacancy, it may take several months to receive the eligible list, and in the meantime, positions go unfilled. In addition, there are times when the list is received and either there are no suitable persons, or the persons on the list do not accept the position. Under this bill, when a municipality having no police department and a population less than 12,000 requests a certified eligible list from the commission, the commission must provide the list within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request. If the commission fails to respond to the request within the 30 days, or an appointment does not result from the list, the municipality may hire a qualified person. The municipality will sign a waiver designed and authorized by the Civil Service Commission exempting the candidate from the civil service hiring process. Upon accepting appointment, the candidate must satisfactorily complete the working test period to be considered by the commission as qualified for the position and to have civil service status. The Civil Service Commission will not require the municipality to replace the candidate upon issuance of a certified eligible list. This bill will help reduce the number of unfilled positions in certain municipalities.
AI Summary
This bill allows certain small municipalities, specifically those with no police department and a population under 12,000, to bypass the standard civil service hiring process under specific conditions. Normally, when these municipalities request a list of qualified candidates from the Civil Service Commission (the state agency overseeing public employment), it can take months to receive this "certified eligible list," leading to unfilled positions. This bill mandates that the Civil Service Commission must provide such a list within 30 days of a request from these eligible municipalities. If the commission fails to meet this deadline, or if no suitable candidate is hired from the provided list, the municipality can then hire an otherwise qualified person. To do this, the municipality will sign a waiver, authorized by the Civil Service Commission, that exempts the chosen candidate from the usual civil service hiring procedures. Once hired, the candidate must successfully complete a probationary period, known as a "working test period," to gain official civil service status. Importantly, even if a certified eligible list is later issued, the municipality will not be required to replace the candidate they hired under this new provision. The bill aims to address the problem of vacant positions in these smaller local governments.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1721 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S2000/1721_I1.HTM |
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