N.J.S.A. 11A:3-1 Classification
The Civil Service Commission shall assign and reassign titles among the career service, senior executive service and unclassified service. The commiss… 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
Every job in New Jersey civil service belongs to one of three services: career, senior executive, or unclassified. This section hands the Civil Service Commission the job of deciding which, and of keeping a classification plan for State service alongside comparable plans for counties and municipalities. It also requires that positions carrying the same qualifications, authority and responsibility be grouped under a single title, and that the Commission publish a specification for each title. Those specifications are the documents indexed on this site.
Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of this section. The statute itself is below, unabridged.
The Civil Service Commission shall assign and reassign titles among the career service, senior executive service and unclassified service. The commission shall:
a.Establish, administer, amend and continuously review a State classification plan governing all positions in State service and similar plans for political subdivisions;#
b.Establish, consolidate and abolish titles;#
c.Ensure the grouping in a single title of positions with similar qualifications, authority and responsibility;#
d.Assign and reassign titles to appropriate positions; and#
e.Provide a specification for each title.#
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An old amendment date alone does not mean a provision is obsolete.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.
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:3, the whole chapter
- N.J.A.C. 4A:9, the whole chapter
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 2008, c. 29, section 20Amended
effective June 30, 2008 - L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
effective September 25, 1986
How this section has been applied
11 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 4
- Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO v. New Jersey Civil Service Com'n234 N.J. 483, 191 A.3d 643
- Carls v. Civil Service Com.17 N.J. 215, 111 A.2d 45
- In re Johnson215 N.J. 366, 73 A.3d 440
- East Orange v. Civil Service Com.38 A.2d 579
Appellate Division 7
- In re Reallocation of Probation Officer441 N.J. Super. 434, 119 A.3d 921
- In re Changes in the State Classification Plan460 N.J. Super. 358, 215 A.3d 918
- In re Police Sergeant (PM3220S), Jersey City360 N.J. Super. 367, 823 A.2d 84
- Mayer v. Board of Comm'rs52 N.J. Super. 127, 145 A.2d 23
- Schnipper v. North Bergen Tp.13 N.J. Super. 11, 80 A.2d 118
- Aparin v. County of Gloucester345 N.J. Super. 41, 783 A.2d 271
- In re Baykal309 N.J. Super. 424, 707 A.2d 467
Commission decisions resting on 11A:3-1
55 decisions of the Civil Service Commission since January 16, 2019 rest on this section: 25 cite it directly, and 30 apply a Title 4A rule adopted under it. The newest:
- In the Matter of Emergency Medical Technician Instructor Title Series July 1, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of Construction Code Inspector Apprentice, Mining June 10, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of Public Works Trainee April 8, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of State Procurement Specialist Trainee April 8, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of S.J., Fire Official (M0412G), Pleasantville February 25, 2026 · Bypass on a certification · Denied · cites this section
- In the Matter of Artificial Intelligence Cloud Solutions Architect February 25, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of Research Scientist Title Series, Botany and Pharmacy Variants February 25, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
- In the Matter of Resource Interpretive Specialist Trainee January 21, 2026 · Title creation, reallocation or retitling · Granted · applies N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2
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.