SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4802

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 1, 2025

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4802.

This bill amends the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act" to establish certain standards in contract negotiations between firefighters, fire officers, and other personnel and public employers.  Specifically, the bill provides that with respect to firefighters and fire officers, terms and conditions of employment will include the minimum number of sworn firefighters and fire officers assigned to each fire apparatus provided that the staffing levels are rationally related to employee or public safety.

     Additionally, the bill provides that if there is a dispute between a majority representative of a unit of sworn fire personnel and a public employer regarding whether the minimum number of sworn fire personnel assigned to a fire apparatus is a management prerogative or rationally relates to public or employee safety and therefore a mandatory subject of negotiations, the matter will be submitted to the commission for an evidentiary hearing.  If the matter involves a grievance arbitration, the commission may refer the issue regarding the scope of negotiations to the arbitrator to decide as a preliminary matter.  If the arbitrator determines that the issue rationally relates to public or employee safety, the arbitrator may decide the merits of the grievance.  In either proceeding, the burden of proof will be by a preponderance of the evidence and shall be on the party asserting that the matter rationally relates to public or employee safety.

     The bill provides that its provisions are not applicable to any other public employees and do not impact the rights of any other public employees subject to the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act."