As of September 1, 2011, all new New Jersey public employees must live in the Garden State.
The New Jersey First Act, P.L. 2011, c.70, requires all newly hired public employees to be New Jersey residents or to move to the state within one year of taking a position. Current employees living in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or other states are exempt from the residency requirement.
The new law covers all state, county and municipal employees. including people working for political subdivisions of the state, as well as employees of public authorities, boards, agencies and commissions. Public school and higher education employees are also subject to the law, although the act does grant some flexibility to institutions of higher education.
