NJ Civil Service Navigator

N.J.S.A. 11A:2-14 Notice to employee of right to appeal, alternative procedures

Except as otherwise provided herein, within 20 days of the hearing provided in N.J.S.11A:2-13, the appointing authority shall make a final disposition… Cited by 2 other sections of Title 11A.

Title 11A · Chapter 2. Civil Service Commission · Article 4

In plain language

Within 20 days of the departmental hearing the appointing authority makes a final disposition and tells the employee in writing. Removal, demotion, or a suspension or fine greater than five days carries a right of appeal to the Commission. Five days or less usually does not, and most readings of this section stop there, but two express exceptions matter more than the rule. A suspension or fine of five days or less IS appealable once an employee's suspended or fined days in one calendar year reach 15 in aggregate. And where an employee receives more than three such suspensions or fines in a calendar year, the last one is appealable. Separately, where the State and a majority representative have agreed a binding arbitration procedure, that becomes the exclusive route for the discipline it covers.

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. Last amended by L. 2008, c. 29, effective June 30, 2008, the most recent of 2 amendments.

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changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.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.

Except as otherwise provided herein, within 20 days of the hearing provided in N.J.S.11A:2-13, the appointing authority shall make a final disposition of the charges against the employee and shall furnish the employee with written notice. If the appointing authority determines that the employee is to be removed, demoted or receive a suspension or a fine greater than five days, the employee shall have a right to appeal to the Civil Service Commission. The suspension or fine of an employee for five days or less shall be appealable if an employee’s aggregate number of days suspended or fined in any one calendar year is 15 days or more. Where an employee receives more than three suspensions or fines of five or less days in a calendar year, the last suspension or fine is appealable.

When the State of New Jersey and the majority representative have agreed pursuant to the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, section 7 of P.L.1968, c.303 (C.34:13A-5.3), to a disciplinary review procedure that provides for binding arbitration of disputes involving disciplinary action in subsection a.(1), (2) and (3) of N.J.S.11A:2-6, which would be otherwise appealable to the Civil Service Commission under N.J.S.11A:2-14, being taken against a permanent employee in the career service or a person serving a working test period, such procedure shall be the exclusive procedure for any appeal of such disciplinary action.

Legislative history

Session laws, newest first

  1. L. 2008, c. 29, section 11Amended
    effective June 30, 2008
  2. L. 2004, c. 104, section 2Amended
    effective July 14, 2004
  3. 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.

Appellate Division 4
  • Matter of Young471 N.J. Super. 169, 272 A.3d 58, 2022 N.J. Super. LEXIS 31
  • County of Monmouth v. Communications Workers of Am.300 N.J. Super. 272, 692 A.2d 990, 1997 N.J. Super. LEXIS 185
  • Scouler v. City of Camden332 N.J. Super. 69, 752 A.2d 828, 2000 N.J. Super. LEXIS 237
  • Hammond v. Monmouth County Sheriff's Dep't317 N.J. Super. 199, 721 A.2d 743, 1999 N.J. Super. LEXIS 4

Effective-date provisions

Quoted from the session laws themselves.

  • Section 120 of L. 2008, c. 29 provides: “This act shall take effect immediately and any actions necessary to implement this act may be taken any time thereafter. General implementation shall be completed no later than 12 months following enactment.” Chapter 29, L. 2008, was approved on June 30, 2008.

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