Bill > A646

Introduced Session

This bill directs boards of education of school districts and county vocational school districts to adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The adoption of such a policy will be a condition for the receipt of State aid. The nepotism policy adopted by a board of education must include, but need not be limited to, the following: (1) a provision prohibiting any relative of a school board member or chief school administrator, school business administrator, school board attorney or director of personnel from being employed in any office or position in the district. However, such a person employed by the district on the effective date of the policy or the date a relative becomes a school board member or administrator will not be prohibited from continuing to be employed in his current position or, in the case of a reduction in force, in any position to which the person has a legal entitlement. The policy may also provide that the district may seek approval from the executive county superintendent of schools to promote such an existing employee under certain circumstances; (2) a provision prohibiting a chief school administrator from recommending to the school board any relative of a school board member or chief school administrator;, school business administrator, school board attorney, or director of personnel. (3) a provision prohibiting a district administrator 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; (4) a provision prohibiting a district administrator who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union from participating in any way in negotiations prior to the school board attaining a tentative memorandum of agreement with the bargaining unit; and (5) a provision prohibiting a district administrator who has a relative who is a member of the same Statewide union in another district from participating in anyway in negotiations. The bill also directs the board of trustees of a charter school to adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The policy adopted by a board of trustees must incorporate the above provisions and will be applicable to members of the board and to charter school administrators. The provisions of the bill reflect the nepotism regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Education. Under those regulations the board of education of a school district or county vocational school district is required to adopt a nepotism policy by October 1, 2008.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Ralph Caputo (D)*,  Joe Cryan (D)*,  Paul Moriarty (D)*,  Dawn Addiego (D),  Nelson Albano (D),  John Burzichelli (D),  Jack Conners (D),  Wayne DeAngelo (D),  Elease Evans (D),  Linda Greenstein (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Matthew Milam (D),  Nellie Pou (D),  Ruben Ramos (D),  Celeste Riley (D),  Scott Rudder (R),  Gary Schaer (D),  Joan Voss (D), 

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 12/09/2010)