Bill Text: NJ S3874 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Permits local government unit to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-06-03 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S3874 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3874-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 3874

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 2019

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Permits local government unit to grant Length of Service Award Program points to certain activated military members.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Service Award Program and supplementing P.L.1997, c.388 (C.40A:14-183 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  A local government unit may, by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, credit a year of active emergency service or a portion of a year for each year or portion of a year during which an active volunteer member is called to State or federal active duty at a location that makes the member unavailable for active emergency service after September 11, 2001 as a member of the reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard in time of war or time of emergency, or for or during any period of training for this active duty; provided, however, that upon completion of active armed forces duty, or training for active duty, the person returns to active volunteer status for a period of time equal to that time served in the armed forces or National Guard, unless the person is unable to resume active volunteer status due to death or a serious service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor.

     b.    In computing credit for length of service under subsection a. of this section, an active volunteer shall receive pro rata credit for points granted during the prior calendar year in lieu of points that may have been granted for activities designated by the sponsoring agency provided under section 6 of P.L.1997, c.388 (C.40A:14-188).

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

      This bill authorizes a municipal or county governing body to grant Length of                 Service Award Program (LOSAP) points to certain volunteer members of fire departments or first aid squads. 

      Under current law, an active volunteer member of an emergency service organization who is deployed to active duty to serve in either the reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard is prohibited from earning LOSAP points for the period they are deployed. 

     Under this bill, a local governing body may grant LOSAP points to a volunteer who is on State or federal active duty or active duty for training if the person returns to active volunteer status for a period of time equivalent to the time served, unless the person is unable to resume active volunteer status due to death or serious injury.

      The points credited would be based on the activated volunteer's LOSAP points granted during the calendar year prior to activation. 

      According to the sponsor, these volunteers should not be penalized because of their active military participation.