Below is a list of bills that Council 73 is working for or against based on their impact on AFSCME NJ members.

  

S-2937/A-4133    Health and Pension Benefit Reduction

 

Sponsored by Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Oliver, these bills overhaul health and pension benefits for all current and future public employees and current public sector retirees. Bills were approved by both houses and signed by Governor Christie on June 27th.

 

S-1730              NJ First: Residency Requirement Bill

 

Sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross, this initiative to require all newly hired public employees to live in the State of New Jersey, was conditionally vetoed by Governor Christie. The legislature subsequently concurred with Christie’s changes and the bill is now

law.

 

S-2928             Developmental Center Closure Commission

 

Senator Jeff Van Drew has been leading the fight to block the closing of Vineland Developmental center. He recently introduced this legislation to create a public commission to decide which of the State’s seven Developmental Centers would close, thereby, postponing the Vineland shutdown.

 

S-1255/A-662       Non-Imposition of Contract

 

Prevents public employers from implemented their last offer following mediation and factfinding.

SPONSORS: Greenstein, Madden, Van Drew

 

S-1117/A-672      Scope of Negotiations

 

Increases public employee union authority to negotiate a broader range of topics at the bargaining table.

SPONSORS: Greenstein, Spencer, Van Drew

 

A-2048          Use of Public Funds for Anti-Union purposes

This bill would outlaw the use of public dollars to oppose efforts by unions to organize public employees.

 

SPONSOR: DeAngelo

 

A-3392/S-2220      Limits on Sick and Vacation Leave

 

Limits sick leave reimbursement upon retirement to $15,000 for all current local government and school board employees; restricts use of sick leave in final year of employment.

SPONSORS:  Lampitt, Albano, Casagrande, Moriarty, Munoz

 

 

STATE BUDGET:  Council 73 has been fighting to protect public employee benefits slashed by Governor Christie in the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 state budget; and opposing any and all institutional closures included in next year’s budget. The Budget must be adopted by June 30, 2011.