N.J.S.A. 11A:1-2 Declaration of policy
The Legislature finds and declares that: a. It is the public policy of this State to select and advance employees on the basis of their relative knowl… Implemented by 3 rules in N.J.A.C. Title 4A.
Current through the close of the 221st Legislature (L. 2025, c. 346). What that means
Reviewed as of July 28, 2026. Official text: njleg.state.nj.us.
In plain language
Five statements of public policy, and they are quoted more often than almost anything else in the title. The State selects and advances employees on relative knowledge, skills and abilities. Public officials get the appointment and supervisory authority they need to do their jobs. Meritorious performance is rewarded, and employees are retained or separated on how well they perform. Equal employment opportunity applies at every level. Career employees are protected from political coercion, and their bargaining rights are recognized. None of this decides a case on its own. It is what everything else in Title 11A gets read against, which is why appeal briefs and Commission decisions open with it.
Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of this section. The statute itself is below, unabridged.
The Legislature finds and declares that:
a.It is the public policy of this State to select and advance employees on the basis of their relative knowledge, skills and abilities;#
b.It is the public policy of this State to provide public officials with appropriate appointment, supervisory and other personnel authority to execute properly their constitutional and statutory responsibilities;#
c.It is the public policy of this State to encourage and reward meritorious performance by employees in the public service and to retain and separate employees on the basis of the adequacy of their performance;#
d.It is the public policy of this State to ensure equal employment opportunity at all levels of the public service; and#
e.It is the public policy of this State to protect career public employees from political coercion and to ensure the recognition of such bargaining and other rights as are secured pursuant to other statutes and the collective negotiations law.#
Enacted by L. 1986, c. 112, effective September 25, 1986. Never amended since.
An old amendment date alone does not mean a provision is obsolete. This mirror reflects the source watermark above; later laws and decisions can affect how the text applies.
The rules that implement this section
A statute sets the framework and the Civil Service Commission’s rules fill in the detail. Where a question turns on procedure, the rule usually governs; where it turns on who is covered or what the Commission may do, the statute does.
- N.J.A.C. 4A:1, the whole chapter
- N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.1 Purpose
- N.J.A.C. 4A:2, the whole chapter
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
effective September 25, 1986
How this section has been applied
4 reported decisions cite this section. Citations only: the summaries in the source are the publisher's own writing, and where we describe a case we write it from the decision itself.
New Jersey Supreme Court 2
- Devlin v. Cooper15 A.2d 630
- In re Local 195, IFPTE88 N.J. 393, 443 A.2d 187
Appellate Division 2
- In re Appeal of White171 N.J. Super. 493, 410 A.2d 66
- Dist. v. Gaines309 N.J. Super. 327, 707 A.2d 165cites (c)
Commission decisions resting on 11A:1-2
36 decisions of the Civil Service Commission since January 16, 2019 rest on this section: 11 cite it directly, and 25 apply a Title 4A rule adopted under it. The newest:
- In the Matter of Vincent Vidinha, Newark Fire Division September 2, 2026 · Discipline · Sent back to the Office of Administrative Law · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3
- In the Matter of Nazia Mughis- Sohrawardy, Environmental Engineer 4 (PS8885G), Department of Environmental Protection September 2, 2026 · Bypass on a certification · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matters of Eric Delgado and Timothy Mitchell, Sergeant Campus Police (PS3229J), Montclair State University August 12, 2026 · Request for reconsideration · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of Donald Kilpatrick, Department of Corrections July 22, 2026 · Discipline · Denied · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3
- In the Matter of Michael Kelly, Jackson Township, Department of Law and Public Safety July 1, 2026 · Discipline · Penalty upheld · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3
- V.P. May 20, 2026 · Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy · Penalty modified · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3
- In the Matter of Terry Buchanon, Newark April 29, 2026 · Petition for interim relief or a stay · Granted in part · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3
- In the Matter of J.D., City of Newark, Department of Public Safety February 25, 2026 · Discipline · Penalty upheld · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.3