WHEREAS, the President of the United States has authorized the
deployment of United States military forces to Bosnia and surrounding
locations as part of a NATO and multinational peacekeeping force,
in accordance with law; and
WHEREAS, the President has authorized the Secretary of Defense
to call up select members of the Reserve and National Guard to active
duty, and has authorized the Secretary of Transportation to call
up members of the Coast Guard Reserve; and
WHEREAS, Reserve and National Guard members who are activated
during these crises serve a vital national interest for which they
deserve the full support of the citizens of this State; and
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 times of emergency; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey recognizes the personal and economic
sacrifices of its employees serving in the Reserve and the National
Guard who are called to active duty during the Bosnian Peacekeeping
Mission;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, 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
during the Bosnian Peacekeeping Mission 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 in
these crises, 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 pay.
3. These State employees shall be entitled to State employee
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. 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 the Commissioner such information, personnel and
assistance as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.
5. This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 29th day of February in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-Six and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Nineteenth.
/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Margaret M. Foti
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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