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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bob Freeman
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Pa. House resolution urges N.J. to exempt current employees from bill requiring residency
HARRISBURG, June 23 – A House resolution urging the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly to exempt New Jersey state employees living in Pennsylvania from residency requirements has been adopted by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, according to state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, a co-sponsor of the resolution.
State representatives in Pennsylvania's Northeast Delegation, of which Freeman is a member, sent a letter in April to members of the New Jersey legislature to express their concern about measures requiring New Jersey public employees to live in that state.
"We represent many people who are public employees in New Jersey who live in Pennsylvania, and this legislation would have a devastating effect on them and their families," Freeman said. "Those New Jersey employees already living in Pennsylvania should be grandfathered. Forcing them to move from the neighborhoods they call home and taking their children out of the schools they have been attending would create an unfair burden."
Under the legislation, current employees within New Jersey's public employees system would be required to move to New Jersey within 2 1/2 years. The delegation asked that New Jersey consider an amendment to the legislation to grandfather current employees. The legislation would affect approximately 6,000 workers.
While grandfathering is being considered by New Jersey legislators at this time, they are also considering using residency as a condition for future promotion.
"Any residency requirement that does not outright grandfather current New Jersey employees living in Pennsylvania is less than acceptable," Freeman said.
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