ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4543

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 16, 2021

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4543.

      This bill requires the civil service commission to notify a certified eligible by certified mail and via electronic mail.

      Currently, after an eligibility list is issued, an appointing authority will contact the Civil Service Commission when there is a need to fill a vacancy.  At that time, the Civil Service Commission will issue a certification and mail each eligible person a notice of certification.  If an eligible person does not respond to the notice of certification within five business days, the eligible person is removed from the eligible list and will no longer receive certifications issued from that list.

      Under the bill, the Civil Service Commission is required to send the notice of certification by certified mail and via electronic mail to the last known address.  Mailing the notice by certified mail will provide the commission with a mailing receipt and electronic verification that the notice was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made.  “Last known address” means the postal address or electronic mailing address provided by the eligible person on the application, or the postal address or electronic mailing address provided by the eligible person in a subsequent written notice of a change of address.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that if the Civil Service Commission (CSC) notifies a certified eligible whose name appears on the eligible list by certified mail at the last known address, the State will be required to pay the cost of the certified mail with electronic verification.  The current United States Postal Service postal rate for certified mail with electronic verification is $4.91.  This cost is in addition to the first class mail or priority mail delivery fees.

      There is no information available to indicate the number of certified mail with electronic verification notifications the CSC would be required to send; thus, a specific estimate of the potential cost for the CSC cannot be made at this time.