Bill > A1148

This bill establishes specific conditions under which various public employers in New Jersey, including the State, counties, municipalities, independent authorities, school districts, and higher education institutions, can grant unpaid or paid leaves of absence to public employees who are performing work for a labor organization, which is an organization that represents employees in collective bargaining. Crucially, such leaves can only be granted if they are explicitly outlined in a collective negotiations agreement, or an addendum to it, between the employer and the labor organization, and this agreement must specify the employee's name or description, the leave's start and end dates, and for paid leaves, require the labor organization to reimburse the employer in advance for all compensation and benefit costs. The bill also mandates that employers notify state agencies, including the Division of Pensions and Benefits and the Civil Service Commission, about these leaves and maintain a public file containing details about employees on leave, the relevant agreements, and reimbursement proofs, while also requiring that all such agreements be filed with the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission.