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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Joseph Brennan
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NE Delegation expresses concern over NJ residency requirements legislation
HARRISBURG, April 22 – State representatives in Pennsylvania's Northeast Delegation sent a letter to members of the New Jersey Legislature to express their concern about legislation requiring New Jersey public employees to live in that state.
Under the legislation, current employees within New Jersey's public employees system would be required to move to within New Jersey state boundaries in 2 1/2 years. The delegation has asked that New Jersey consider an amendment to the legislation to grandfather in current employees. The legislation would affect approximately 6,000 workers.
"We represent many people who are public employees in New Jersey that live in Pennsylvania, and this legislation would have a devastating effect on them and their families," said state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton. "Those New Jersey employees already living in Pennsylvania should be grandfathered, as this legislation would create an unfair burden."
"These bills would require people to be uprooted from their homes, children being pulled from schools and friends, and a whole host of other issues that would be detrimental to employees and their families when they are required to move," said state Rep. Rich Grucela, D-Northampton.
"This would affect a wide range of public employees like firefighters, police officers and teachers who live in Pennsylvania but work in New Jersey," said state Rep. Joe Brennan, D-Lehigh/Northampton.
One of the authors of the bill said he may consider the current employee exemption. The New Jersey Senate State Government Committee is expected to consider the bill next month.
Current Pennsylvania law requires that civil service employees maintain in-state residency, but that requirement does not include as many employees at so many levels of government.
Other members of the Northeast Delegation who signed the letter include state Reps. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne; Tim Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks; John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike; Ken Smith, D-Lackawanna; Ed Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne; Bob Belfanti, D- Northumberland/Montour/Columbia; Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe; and delegation chairman state Rep. Neal Goodman, D-Schuylkill.
NOTE: LETTER IS ATTACHED.
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