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,
the armed conflict in Iraq, and heightened tensions in other areas; and
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; and
WHEREAS, employees of the State of New Jersey are among the Reserve
and National Guard members who have been mobilized into active duty with
the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, Reserve and National Guard members who are activated during
this crisis are serving vital national and State interests for which they
deserve the full support of the State of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, many of the State employees who have been mobilized are serving
on active duty for periods exceeding one year, and have been unable to
utilize their entitlement for vacation leave provided to them by their
State employer; and
WHEREAS, existing State law, specifically N.J.S.A. 11A:6-2 limits the
carry-over of vacation leave into the next succeeding year only, and such
leave is forfeited if not used during that next succeeding year; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 11A:6-2 allows vacation leave not taken by an employee
because of duties directly related to a State of Emergency declared by
the Governor to accumulate indefinitely until such leave is able to be
utilized; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey encourages its employees to serve in
the Reserve and National Guard and recognizes their many personal and
economic sacrifices made when called to active duty; and
WHEREAS, these employees deserve the full support of the State of New
Jersey and should not be penalized by the loss of their accumulated vacation
leave as a result of their service to our Country and our State; and
WHEREAS, such service is directly connected to emergent circumstances
within the State of New Jersey and throughout the world;
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:
- I hereby declare that those State employees who have been mobilized
into active duty in response to the continuing global war on terrorism,
armed conflict with Iraq, or other areas of heightened tension throughout
the world, including the defense of our Homeland Security, are performing
duties directly related to a State of Emergency, for the purposes
set forth in N.J.S.A. 11A:6-2.
- Such State employees shall be permitted to accumulate vacation
leave time that they are unable to utilize because of their mobilization
into active duty, pursuant to a plan established by the Commissioner
of Personnel, in consultation with affected State appointing authorities.
- This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 3rd day of December in the Year
of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three, and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth.
/s/ James E. McGreevey
Governor
[seal]
Attest:
/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis
Chief Counsel to the Governor