A4704

An Act establishing the Public Service Management Fellows Program and an advisory committee, and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the Public Service Management Fellows Program. The program shall aim to attract to State government service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines at the graduate level who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

2. a. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish the eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program, as well as a process for assessing eligible individuals for consideration for appointment as a fellow.

b. Each fellow shall have received, within the preceding two years, a qualifying degree, as determined by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

c. No more than 10 fellows shall be selected each year and shall be assigned to work in an Executive Branch department or agency.

d. Responsibilities assigned to a fellow shall be consistent with the fellow’s qualifications, educational background, career interests, the purposes of the fellows program, and the needs of the assigned department or agency.

e. Appointments to a fellowship shall not exceed two years, unless extended by the assigned department or agency for up to a maximum of 120 days. Appointment to a department or agency shall confer no right to further employment.

f. Each fellow shall receive a stipend during the period of their fellowship.

3. There is established a Public Service Management Fellows Program Advisory Committee. The committee shall consist of the commissioners of each Executive Branch department, or their designees.

The advisory committee shall appoint a director of the Public Service Management Fellows Program, established pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), who shall administer the program and, in cooperation with the advisory committee, recruit and select the fellows. The director need not be a commissioner, or a designee, of an Executive Branch department.

4. The State shall appropriate funds in each fiscal year to finance the stipends provided to fellows pursuant to section 2 of this act, P.L. , c. (C. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill), in such sums as may be necessary, but not to exceed an amount as shall be determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury, and to effectuate the purposes of the program established in accordance with section 1 of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the Public Service Management Fellows Program. The purpose of the program is to attract to State government service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines at the graduate level who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

There is a significant need and a value in promoting careers in the public sector at the State government level among new workers who have recently completed graduate level education. The program created by this bill will promote careers in public service and, by doing so, will help replace employees who have retired or left government service.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will establish the eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program, as well as a process for assessing eligible individuals for consideration for appointment as a fellow.

Up to 10 fellows will be selected each year and will be assigned to work in an Executive Branch department or agency. The appointments will not exceed two years, unless extended by the assigned department or agency for up to an additional 120 days. Each fellow will receive a stipend during the period of their fellowship. The State will appropriate funds each fiscal year to finance the stipends.

The bill also establishes a Public Service Management Fellows Program Advisory Committee. The committee will consist of the commissioners of each Executive Branch department, or their designees. The advisory committee will appoint a director to administer the program and, in cooperation with the advisory committee, recruit and select the fellows.