N.J.S.A. 11A:9-2 Adoption of title; petition
The clerk of any county or municipality not operating under the provisions of this title shall submit the question of adopting the provisions of Title… Implemented by a rule in N.J.A.C. Title 4A.
In plain language
Adoption starts with a petition, and the threshold is high. Registered voters equal to 15 percent of the valid votes cast in the county or municipality at the last general election have to sign, in ink, each giving a residence by street and number or something else that identifies the place. Every separate sheet carries an affidavit from its circulator saying that they personally witnessed each signature. Once a sufficient petition is filed, the clerk has no choice: the question goes to the voters.
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. Never amended since.
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changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.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 clerk of any county or municipality not operating under the provisions of this title shall submit the question of adopting the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes to the voters of the county or municipality upon the filing with the clerk of a petition requesting the adoption. The petition shall be signed by the registered voters of the county or municipality equal to 15% of the valid votes cast in the county or municipality during the last general election. Each name shall be signed in ink and the place of residence indicated by street and number or other description sufficient to identify the place. Attached to each separate paper there shall be an affidavit of the circulator thereof that the circulator, and only the circulator, personally circulated the foregoing paper, that all signatures thereto were made in the circulator’s presence, and that the circulator believes them to be genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be. Within 10 days from the date of filing the petition, the clerk shall complete an examination and ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of qualified voters and shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of the examination.
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:9-1.1 Jurisdictions adopting Title 11A, New Jersey Statutes by referendum
Legislative history
Session laws, newest first
- L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
effective September 25, 1986
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.
New Jersey Supreme Court 1
- State Dep't of Civil Service v. Clark15 N.J. 334, 104 A.2d 685, 1954 N.J. LEXIS 278
Sections that refer to this one
- N.J.S.A. 11A:9-4 Refusal to comply