34:13A-16.8 Police and Fire Public Interest Arbitration Impact Task Force.

3. a. There is established a task force, to be known as the Police and Fire Public Interest Arbitration Impact Task Force.

b. The task force shall be comprised of eight members as follows:

(1) four to be appointed by the Governor;

(2) two to be appointed by the Senate President; and

(3) two to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

c. All appointments shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of P.L.2010, c.105 (C.34:13A-16.7 et al.). Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, within the limits of funds made available to the task force, for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

d. (1) The task force shall organize as soon as is practicable upon the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson from among the appointees of the Governor and a vice chairperson from among the appointees of the Legislature. The Chair of the Public Employment Relations Commission shall serve as non-voting executive director of the task force.

(2) The task force shall meet within 60 days of the effective date of P.L.2010, c.105 (C.34:13A-16.7 et al.) and shall meet thereafter at the call of its chair. In furtherance of its evaluation, the task force may hold public meetings or hearings within the State on any matter or matters related to the provisions of this act, and call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the Public Employment Relations Commission and the employees of any State department, board, task force or agency which the task force determines possesses relevant data, analytical and professional expertise or other resources which may assist the task force in discharging its duties under this act. Each department, board, commission or agency of this State is hereby directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the task force and to furnish such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act. In addition, in order to facilitate the work of the task force, the Public Employment Relations Commission shall post on its website all collective negotiations agreements and interest arbitration awards entered or awarded after the date of enactment, including a summary of contract or arbitration award terms in a standard format developed by the Public Employment Relations Commission to facilitate comparisons. All collective negotiations agreements shall be submitted to the Public Employment Relations Commission within 15 days of contract execution.

e. (1) It shall be the duty of the task force to study the effect and impact of the arbitration award cap upon local property taxes; collective bargaining agreements; arbitration awards; municipal services; municipal expenditures; municipal public safety services, particularly changes in crime rates and response times to emergency situations; police and fire recruitment, hiring and retention; the professional profile of police and fire departments, particularly with regard to age, experience, and staffing levels; and such other matters as the members deem appropriate and necessary to evaluate the effects and impact of the arbitration award cap.

(2) Specifically, the task force shall study total compensation rates, including factors subject to the arbitration award cap and factors exempt from the arbitration award cap, of police and fire personnel throughout the State and make recommendations thereon. The task force also shall study the interest arbitration process and make recommendations concerning its continued use in connection with police and fire labor contracts disputes. The task force shall make findings as to the relative growth in total compensation cost attributable to factors subject to the arbitration award cap and to factors exempt from the arbitration award cap, for both collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards.

f. The task force shall annually report its findings, along with any recommendations it may have, to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature. The task force's final report due on or before December 31, 2017 shall include, in addition to any other findings and recommendations, a specific recommendation for any amendments to the arbitration award cap. Upon the filing of its final report on or before December 31, 2017, the task force shall expire.

L.2010, c.105, s.3; amended 2014, c.11, s.3.