The 221st session of the New Jersey Legislature ended Jan. 13 with two major victories for NJEA members.
A longtime NJEA priority, revamping the state’s outdated public school charter law, came to fruition when the Senate and Assembly passed S4713/A5936 and S4716/A5935. After months of work with stakeholders, including the New Jersey Charter Schools Association, those bills won broad consensus and passed both houses with overwhelming bipartisan support. Three decades after passage of the original law authorizing public charter schools in New Jersey, the new bills provide for greater accountability and transparency for those public schools.
On the pension front, S4223/A5118, which restores the right of public employees who are on long-term disability to be insured through the state health benefits systems, also overwhelmingly passed both houses, the final day of the legislative session. Following on the heels of another win earlier this year that strengthened the rights of members who returned to the pension system following a break in service, it represents the second important pension reform win of the year, showing continued momentum on pension issues that will carry into the coming legislative session.
The charter reform bills and the long-term disability bills were signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
In addition, Gov. Murphy signed A3451 which contains a number of changes to the state’s laws concerning unpaid, job-protected leave that eligible employees may take under the NJ Family Leave Act (NJFLA). This change will make it much easier for school employees to qualify for unpaid, job-protected leave under NJFLA. This will particularly help where members take sustained leave for childbirth and bonding or to care for a family member, particularly if they need to take more than one leave within a short timeframe. Once these members return to work, they will have to work far fewer hours to qualify for NJFLA.
Another top NJEA priority, reform of the pension systems to eliminate DCRP and return all members to Tier 1 of the PERS and TPAF systems, will continue in the upcoming legislative session.
NJEA President Steve Beatty, NJEA Vice President Petal Robertson, and NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Tina Dare said this about the wins and the member advocacy that drove them:
“These victories are a direct result of the relentless advocacy of NJEA members over the past year and especially over the last six weeks. Restoring health benefits for members on long-term disability is a fundamental matter of fairness. It will be life changing for the affected members. Modernizing New Jersey’s charter school law is long overdue and brings greater fairness and accountability to that sector of our public schools.
”These wins show what we can accomplish when we stand together and speak up for justice. But our work is far from done. We remain committed to achieving full pension justice, including a Tier 1 pension for every member. That fight continues, and NJEA members will keep leading the way as a new Legislature is seated and a new governor takes office.”