WHEREAS, the
President of the United States has authorized the deployment of
United States military forces to Kosovo and surrounding locations
as part of a NATO mission, in accordance with law; and
WHEREAS, the
President may authorize the Secretary of Defense to call up select
members of the Reserve and National Guard to active duty, and may
authorize the Secretary of Transportation to call up members of
the Coast Guard Reserve; and
WHEREAS, Reserve
and National Guard members who are activated during this crisis
will 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 Kosovo conflict;
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 Kosovo
conflict 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 this crisis,
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 16th day of April in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-Nine and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Third.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
[seal]
Attest:
/s/ John J.
Farmer, Jr.
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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