New Jersey Assembly Bill A1218

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Requires State to reimburse counties for portion of holiday pay to county employees performing State services on certain holidays.

Impact

The bill will have significant implications for the financial management of counties, as it allows for the inclusion of expected reimbursements from the state in their financial planning. Counties will be able to apply for reimbursement for the costs incurred in paying holiday pay above the employees' base salaries. This could alleviate some of the financial burdens that counties face when employees must work during holidays not recognized by the state, promoting the fiscal health of local governments.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1218 seeks to establish a reimbursement mechanism for counties in New Jersey regarding holiday pay for county employees performing state services on holidays that are not recognized by the state as paid holidays. Specifically, the bill mandates that counties compensate these employees with holiday pay calculated at a rate of no more than one and a half times their base hourly wage. This provision reflects an effort to ensure that county employees are fairly compensated for their service to state government, even during designated local holidays.

Contention

While the bill aims to support counties administratively and financially, it may also raise questions regarding the adequacy of state funding for these reimbursements. Some stakeholders might argue that without a guaranteed smooth reimbursement process, counties could be left with unbudgeted expenses if the state fails to timely reimburse holiday pay. Critics may also contend that the bill does not address the broader issues of holiday pay standards and equity across different types of local government employees.