State of New Jersey
Executive Order #50

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has authorized the Secretary of Defense to call up select members of the Reserve and National Guard to active duty in response to the continuing Global War on Terrorism, potential armed conflict with Iraq, and heightened tensions with North Korea;

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has also authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to similarly call up members of the Coast Guard Reserve;

WHEREAS, Reserve and National Guard members who are activated during this crisis situation serve a vital national interest for which they deserve the full support of the citizens of this State;

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey recognizes that a strong, ready Reserve and National Guard are essential to the defense of this country and vital to this State in time of emergency or natural disaster;

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey encourages its employees to serve in the Reserve and National Guard and recognizes the personal and economic sacrifices of its employees who are called to active duty during the Middle East crisis;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. New Jersey State employees who are called to active duty in response to the continuing Global War on Terrorism, potential armed conflict with Iraq, and heightened tensions with North Korea shall be entitled upon termination of active duty to return to State employment with full seniority and benefits consistent with State and federal military reemployment and seniority rights.

  2. During active duty for the duration of their activation, these State employees shall be entitled to receive a salary equal to the differential between the employee's State salary and the employee's military base pay, following the exhaustion of statutory entitlements to full pay.

  3. These State employees shall be entitled to State employees health benefits, life insurance and pension coverage during active duty service for which they receive differential salary as prescribed in this order as if they were on paid leave of absence.

  4. If a State employee's military base pay is greater than his or her State salary, such that he or she would not receive differential pay under paragraph 2 of this Order, that State employee shall, nonetheless, be entitled to State employee health benefits, life insurance and pension coverage during active duty service, with the State employee's contributory portion of those benefits and programs to be paid by the employee upon his or her return to State employment, after completion of active duty.

  5. The Commissioner of Personnel shall implement this Executive Order and each department, office, division or agency of the State is authorized and directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the Commissioner of Personnel and to make available to her such information, personnel and assistance as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this of this Order.

  6. This Order shall take effect immediately.

 
 

Given, under my hand and seal this 27th day of February in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Three, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Paul P. Josephson

Chief Counsel to the Governor