Assembly Passes Legislation Retaliating Against “New Jersey First Act”

Bill would label states such as New Jersey as “discriminatory jurisdictions”

Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D- New City) announced that today, that his bill retaliating against discriminatory public employment jurisdictions has passed the Assembly (A.2078). This bill would label jurisdictions that have enacted state policies that restrict public employment to in-state residents as “discriminatory.” Under the legislation, the only state that would be affected is New Jersey. They would be labeled a “discriminatory jurisdiction” due to their law, the NJ First Act, which has effectively shut out all New York residents from public jobs in New Jersey.

“Although only in effect for a few years, I have had many constituents contact me about personal hardship. Some are finding themselves completely shut out of available jobs or are in danger of losing their current one. At the end of the day, I need to protect my residents,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

Assemblyman Zebrowski has written to Governor Christie and members of the Legislature three times over the past several years respectfully asking that the law be repealed citing its negative effect on New York residents. As a last effort, he also informed them of the pending retaliatory legislation as a last chance to repeal the law. Although they have yet to do so, New Jersey Leaders have been receptive to the concerns that Assemblyman Zebrowski has raised about the law and has received direct feedback from the President of the Senate. New Jersey Legislators have also drafted their own legislation that would work toward rolling back these residency requirements.

“The NJ First Act completely disregards the ideals on which this nation was built and threatens the free economic markets that we have worked so hard to maintain. Having to create our own discriminatory employment law is not an ideal concept, but rather a necessary reaction,” said Zebrowski.

“The fact that New Jersey sends more people to out of state jobs than any other state only further demonstrates that their law is not only seriously flawed, but also ironic. New Jersey is ignoring the regional economic realities and has failed to consider the long term consequences of economic protectionism. I will not stop my efforts to provide equity between our states’ residents until this unfair law is repealed,” concluded Zebrowski.

The bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator David Carlucci and is currently before the Civil Service and Pensions Committee.