N.J.S.A. 11A:7-1 Equal employment opportunity
The head of each State agency shall ensure equality of opportunity for all of its employees and applicants seeking employment. Equal employment opport… Implemented by 2 rules in N.J.A.C. Title 4A.
In plain language
The obligation sits with the head of each State agency rather than with a central office. Every agency head ensures equality of opportunity for employees and applicants, across recruitment, selection, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, layoff, return from layoff, compensation and fringe benefits, and the list is expressly not exhaustive. It reaches policies and programmes for recruiting, employing, training, promoting and retaining minorities, women and persons with disabilities. One distinction is drawn in the section itself: for persons identified solely by affectional or sexual orientation, equal employment opportunity is required but affirmative action is not. Agency heads are also directed to explore innovative personnel policies and implement them where authorised, or recommend them upward where not.
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. Last amended by L. 2017, c. 131, effective July 21, 2017.
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changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.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 head of each State agency shall ensure equality of opportunity for all of its employees and applicants seeking employment. Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: recruitment, selection, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, layoff, return from layoff, compensation, and fringe benefits. Equal employment opportunity further includes policies, procedures, and programs for recruitment, employment, training, promotion, and retention of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Equal employment opportunity but not affirmative action is required with respect to persons identified solely by their affectional or sexual orientation.
The head of each State agency shall explore innovative personnel policies in order to enhance these efforts and where appropriate shall implement them to the fullest extent authorized. Where the implementation of those policies is not authorized, an agency head shall recommend implementation to the appropriate State agency.
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:2, the whole chapter
- N.J.A.C. 4A:7, the whole chapter
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 2017, c. 131, section 10Amended
effective July 21, 2017 - L. 1991, c. 519, section 15Amended
no effective date given - L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
no effective date given
How this section has been applied
1 reported decision cites 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 1
- Klawitter v. City of Trenton395 N.J. Super. 302, 928 A.2d 900, 2007 N.J. Super. LEXIS 280