40A:14-81.2 Qualifications for appointment to paid position.

2. Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall be appointed to a paid position authorized pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.453 (C.40A:14-81.1) unless that person:

a. Is a citizen of the United States;

b. Is eligible for acceptance in the Public Employees' Retirement System of New Jersey or in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey;

c. Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;

d. Is of good moral character;

e. Has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

For the purposes of this section, each applicant shall submit to the appointing body of the fire district the applicant's name, address, fingerprints and written consent for a criminal history record background check to be performed. The appointing body of the fire district is authorized to exchange fingerprint data with and receive criminal history record information from the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation consistent with applicable State and federal law, rules and regulations. The applicant shall bear the cost of the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check. The Division of State Police shall promptly notify the appointing body of the fire district in the event a current employee or prospective applicant who was the subject of a criminal history record background check pursuant to this section is arrested for a crime or offense in this State after the date the background check was performed. The appointing body, officer or officers of the fire district, when authorized to do so, may employ such officers and other personnel for the paid or part-paid fire department and force as temporary employees in emergencies or for a specified part of the year, as needed.

L.1979, c.453, s.2; amended 2009, c.18, s.1.