SENATE, No. 2057
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Revises certain requirements for applicants to become certified municipal finance officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee on December 5, 2024, with amendments.
An Act concerning the requirements for certified municipal finance officers and amending P.L.1971, c.413.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1971, c.413 (C.40A:9-140.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. 1(1)1 The director shall hold examinations semi-annually, and at such times as [he] the director may determine appropriate for certification of municipal finance officers. An applicant for examination shall present to the director written application on forms provided by the Division of Local Government Services, showing that the applicant is not less than 21 years of age, is a citizen of the United States, is of good moral character, has obtained a certificate or diploma issued after at least four years of study in an approved secondary school or has received an academic education considered and accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this State as fully equivalent, and has graduated with a baccalaureate degree from [a] 1[an accredited] a1 four-year [course at a] college [of recognized standing with a major course of study in business administration, accounting or equivalent subject] 1, accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of Education, with a major course of study in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, public administration, or an equivalent subject1.
1(2) An applicant who possesses a baccalaureate degree without a major course of study described pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection may qualify to take the examination by graduating with a Masters’ degree from a college accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of Education in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, public administration, or an equivalent subject.1
b. An applicant who does not possess the college degree required [under] pursuant to subsection a. [above] of this section may qualify to take the examination by furnishing proof of four years of full-time experience in a position as a 1[municipal]1 director of finance, assistant director of finance, fiscal officer, 1[municipal]1 comptroller, assistant comptroller, 1[municipal]1 treasurer, assistant 1[municipal]1 treasurer 1[or] ,1 deputy treasurer 1, or an equivalent position1 in any local unit 1, or in a state, federal, private sector, or non-profit entity1. An applicant who does not possess four years of full-time experience in such a position may substitute one year of college education for one year of experience, up to a maximum of two years of college education. For the purpose of this section, one full year of college education is equal to 30 [college] academic credits.
c. Every applicant shall furnish proof that [he] the applicant has received certificates indicating satisfactory completion of complete training courses in municipal finance administration, municipal current fund accounting I and II, municipal capital and trust fund accounting, municipal utility fund accounting, municipal budget preparation and control, and principles of financial management, as are provided by the Division of Local Government Services or Rutgers, The State University, with the approval of the Division of Local Government Services.
d. Every applicant submitting an application after January 1, 1992 shall also furnish proof that [he] the applicant has received a certificate indicating satisfactory completion of a complete training course in the preparation of annual financial statements as provided by the Division of Local Government Services, or Rutgers, The State University, with the approval of the Division of Local Government Services.
e. Each completed application form shall be 1:1 accompanied by a fee in the amount of $50, 1or such other amount as the director may elect,1 payable to the State Treasurer 1,1 and 1[shall be]1 filed with the director at least 30 days prior to the date of examination. Examinations shall be written, or both written and oral, and shall be of such character as fairly to test and determine the ability of the person tested to perform the duties of chief financial officer.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.175, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.