When a permanent employee or an employee in the senior executive service is appointed by the Governor to an office, the appointing authority shall grant and record a leave of absence without pay for the period of appointment, provided that the employee requests such a leave of absence prior to the appointment. Upon the expiration of the leave, the employee shall have the right to return to the former title and receive all the rights, privileges and benefits of that title as if he or she had remained in that title. See N.J.S.A. 52:14-16.2.
N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:6-1.12
See: 25 New Jersey Register 4824(a), 26 New Jersey Register 795(b).