N.J.S.A. 11A:2-24 Protection against reprisals
An appointing authority shall not take or threaten to take any action against an employee in the career, senior executive or unclassified service in r… Amended 1 time since 1986.
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
Whistleblower protection, and its reach is wider than most of this title. An appointing authority may not take or threaten any action against an employee in the career, senior executive OR unclassified service in retaliation for lawfully disclosing information about a violation of law or rule, governmental mismanagement, or abuse of authority. Including the unclassified service is the notable part: employees who have no tenure and no appeal from a removal do have this. An employee subjected to a reprisal may appeal.
Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of this section. The statute itself is below, unabridged.
An appointing authority shall not take or threaten to take any action against an employee in the career, senior executive or unclassified service in retaliation for an employee’s lawful disclosure of information on the violation of any law or rule, governmental mismanagement or abuse of authority. An employee who is the subject of a reprisal action by an appointing authority for the lawful disclosure of information may appeal such action to the Civil Service Commission.
Enacted by L. 1986, c. 112, effective September 25, 1986. Last amended by L. 2008, c. 29, effective June 30, 2008.
An old amendment date alone does not mean a provision is obsolete.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.
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 2008, c. 29, section 18Amended
effective June 30, 2008 - L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
effective September 25, 1986
Commission decisions resting on 11A:2-24
15 decisions of the Civil Service Commission since January 16, 2019 rest on this section: 12 cite it directly, and 3 apply a Title 4A rule adopted under it. The newest:
- In the Matter of Michael Negron, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office April 29, 2026 · Reassignment, salary or separation · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of Alexandre Gabler, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health December 17, 2025 · · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of A.A., Motor Vehicle Commission July 3, 2024 · Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of T.N., Department of Corrections March 20, 2024 · Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of S.B., Department of Corrections August 24, 2022 · Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of Michael Randolph, et al., Irvington June 29, 2022 · Position classification · Granted · cites this section
- In the Matter of S.M., Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health May 18, 2022 · Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy · Referred for further review · cites this section
- In the Matter of Alexandre Gabler, Librarian 3 (PM4239C), Woodbridge Library February 2, 2022 · Examination scoring or administration · Denied · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:2-5.1
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.