N.J.S.A. 11A:7-3 Equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program
The division shall develop, implement and administer an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program for all State agencies. The progra… Implemented by a rule in N.J.A.C. Title 4A.
In plain language
One programme covering every State agency, developed, implemented and administered by the division, taking account of the personnel requirements each agency reasonably needs for its work. The director sets each agency's goals for minorities, women and persons with disabilities so they are reasonably related to their POPULATION IN THE RELEVANT SURROUNDING LABOR MARKET AREAS, which is the statutory yardstick and a narrower one than general availability. The director also ensures compliance and seeks correction of discriminatory practices, recommends sanctions to the State Treasurer, reviews personnel practices to remove artificial barriers, and acts as liaison with enforcement agencies. Subsection f. carries the only complaint mechanics in the chapter: each agency must keep a written record of every complaint in a uniform format, interview the complainant, and where the complainant is the person allegedly discriminated against, tell them whether an investigation will happen and if not, why 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, effective September 25, 1986. Last amended by L. 2019, c. 347, effective March 13, 2020, the most recent of 3 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changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.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.
The division shall develop, implement and administer an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action program for all State agencies. The program shall consider the particular personnel requirements that are reasonably related to job performance of each State agency. The director of the division shall ensure that the affirmative action and equal employment goals of each State agency for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities shall be reasonably related to their population in the relevant surrounding labor market areas. The director, in accordance with applicable federal and State guidelines, shall:
a.Ensure each State agency’s compliance with all laws and rules relating to equal employment opportunity and seek correction of discriminatory practices, policies and procedures;#
b.Recommend appropriate sanctions for noncompliance to the State Treasurer who, with the concurrence of the Governor, is authorized to implement sanctions;#
c.Review State personnel practices, policies, and procedures, inclusive of recruitment, selection, and promotion, in order to identify and eliminate artificial barriers to equal employment opportunity;#
d.Act as liaison with federal, State, and local enforcement agencies;#
e.Recommend appropriate legislation to the State Treasurer and perform other actions deemed necessary by the State Treasurer to implement this chapter; and#
f.Provide, under rules adopted by the Department of the Treasury, for review of equal employment complaints. Such rules shall, at minimum, (1) require that each State agency create a written record of each complaint received and provide a uniform format and procedure for creating and maintaining that record; (2) require that the State agency interview the person submitting the complaint to determine the nature and scope of the complaint; and (3) when the person submitting the complaint is the person against whom the discrimination is alleged to have occurred, require that the State agency notify that person as to whether an investigation into the complaint will be conducted and if not, the basis for such a determination.#
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:7, the whole chapter
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 2019, c. 347, section 1Amended
effective March 13, 2020 - L. 2017, c. 131, section 11Amended
effective July 21, 2017 - L. 2008, c. 29, section 64Amended
effective June 30, 2008 - L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
effective September 25, 1986
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.
- Section 3 of L. 2019, c. 347 provides: “This act shall take effect on the 60th day following enactment.” Chapter 347, L. 2019, was approved on Jan. 13, 2020.
- Amendment Notes
- 2008 amendment, by Chapter 29, substituted “State Treasurer” for “commissioner” in b. and twice in e.; and in f., substituted “Department of the Treasury” for “board.”
- 2017 amendment, by Chapter 131, in the third sentence of the opening paragraph, inserted the comma following “women”, and substituted “persons with disabilities” for “handicapped persons”; and inserted the comma following “policies” in c.
- 2019 amendment, by Chapter 347, added the second sentence of f.