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.
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 recognised. 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.
Current through the close of the 221st Legislature (L. 2025, c. 346). What that means
Enacted by L. 1986, c. 112, effective September 25, 1986. Never amended since.
A New Jersey statute changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.
Reviewed as of July 28, 2026. Official text: njleg.state.nj.us.
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.#
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, 1940 N.J. LEXIS 352
- In re Local 195, IFPTE88 N.J. 393, 443 A.2d 187, 1982 N.J. LEXIS 1881
Appellate Division 2
- In re Appeal of White171 N.J. Super. 493, 410 A.2d 66, 1979 N.J. Super. LEXIS 988
- Dist. v. Gaines309 N.J. Super. 327, 707 A.2d 165, 1998 N.J. Super. LEXIS 117