40A:14-201 Law enforcement officer, firefighter, suspension, termination, final determination, payment status.

2. a. When a law enforcement officer employed by a law enforcement agency or a firefighter employed by a public fire department that is subject to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes is suspended from performing his official duties without pay for a complaint or charges, other than (1) a complaint or charges relating to the subject matter of a pending criminal investigation, inquiry, complaint, or charge whether pre-indictment or post indictment, or (2) when the complaint or charges allege conduct that also would constitute a violation of the criminal laws of this State or any other jurisdiction, and the law enforcement agency employing the officer or the public fire department employing the firefighter seeks to terminate that officer's or firefighter's employment for the conduct that was the basis for the officer's or firefighter's suspension without pay, a final determination on the officer's or firefighter's suspension and termination shall be rendered within 180 calendar days from the date the officer or firefighter is suspended without pay.

If a final determination is not rendered within those 180 days, as hereinafter calculated, the officer or firefighter shall, commencing on the 181st calendar day, begin again to receive the base salary he was being paid at the time of his suspension and shall continue to do so until a final determination on the officer's or firefighter's termination is rendered.

b. The 180 calendar day period shall commence on the date that the officer or firefighter is suspended without pay and shall be calculated as follows:

(1) The calendar days that accrue between the date the officer or firefighter is terminated by his employing agency or department and the date on which the officer or firefighter files his appeal of his termination with the Office of Administrative Law shall not be used in calculating the date upon which the officer or firefighter is entitled, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to receive his base salary pending a final determination on his appeal;

(2) If the officer or firefighter or his representative requests and is granted a postponement of a hearing or any other delay before the 181st calendar day, the calendar days that accrue during that postponement or delay shall not be used in calculating the date upon which the officer or firefighter is entitled, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to receive his base salary pending a final determination on his appeal;

(3) If the officer or firefighter or his representative causes by his actions a postponement, adjournment or delay of a hearing before the 181st calendar day, the calendar days that accrue during that postponement, adjournment or delay shall not be used in calculating the date upon which the officer or firefighter is entitled, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to receive his base salary pending a final determination on his appeal;

(4) If the officer and the agency or the firefighter and the department agree to any postponement or delay of a hearing before the 181st calendar day, the calendar days that accrue during that postponement or delay shall not be used in calculating the date upon which that officer or firefighter is entitled, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to receive his base salary pending a final determination on his appeal; or

(5) If the administrative law judge or Civil Service Commission for good cause postpones or delays a hearing before the 181st calendar day, the calendar days that accrue during that postponement or delay shall not be used in calculating the date upon which that officer or firefighter is entitled, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to receive his base salary pending a final determination on his appeal.

c. If an officer or firefighter who is receiving full pay pending a final determination on an appeal in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section requests and is granted, or who otherwise causes by his actions a postponement, adjournment, or delay of a hearing, or whose representative requests and is granted, or who otherwise causes by his actions a postponement, adjournment or delay of a hearing, that officer or firefighter shall not be entitled to receive his base salary during the period of that postponement, adjournment, or delay.

L.2009, c.16, s.2.