N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:6-6.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 4A:6-6.6 - Suggestion Award Program procedures: State service

(a) Suggestions shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the Committee, which shall include:

1. A brief statement describing the present condition, method or practice, and where it exists.

2. A specific statement of what is suggested and how it can be accomplished. Sketches, charts, samples and additional data may be included.

3. A concise statement of the benefits which will accrue and the name of the organization or organizations which will benefit.

4. The name, home mailing address, social security number, title of present position, salary range, and department and division of the suggester.

(b) Suggestions may be submitted through one of two options at the discretion of the suggester:

1. Option 1 suggestions are suggestions sent to the Committee, which then refers them to the appropriate departmental committee(s).

2. Option 2 suggestions are sent to the Committee to ensure that the suggestion is recorded as the suggester's property. Thereafter, the suggester directly works with supervisory personnel and the departmental committee to develop and refine the suggestion.

(c) The Committee and the departmental committees shall utilize the following procedures in processing suggestions:

1. For Option 1, the departmental committee shall make, within 90 days of receipt of the suggestion from the Committee, an evaluation and a recommendation to the Committee.

2. For Option 2, the departmental committee shall make arrangements with the suggester and appropriate supervisory personnel to develop and refine the suggestion. This departmental committee shall, within a reasonable time, make an evaluation and recommendation to the Committee.

3. The Secretary shall make the initial review of all proposed award recommendations from the departmental committees. When the recommendation from the departmental committee is for disapproval, the Secretary shall, from the evidence presented, determine if the disapproval should be upheld. When the recommendation is for approval and the recommended amount of the award is $ 500.00 or less, the Secretary may authorize the award.

4. The Committee shall review evaluations from departmental committees when the recommendation is for approval and the recommended amount of the award is more than $ 500.00. Following review, the Committee shall either accept, reject or modify the recommendation.

5. If the Committee determines that it is necessary to use outside consultants in the development or evaluation of a suggestion, the costs may be offset against any award, in coordination with the affected Agency.

6. The Secretary or the Committee, as the case may be, may request further information of the departmental committee, and may return the recommendation to the departmental committee for further deliberations, prior to any formal action taken by the Secretary or Committee concerning the recommendation.

7. The Secretary shall notify the suggester of the disposition of the suggestion within 60 days of receipt of the departmental committee's recommendation, and whether there will be a trial period and the length of such period. See N.J.A.C. 4A:6-6.1 0 for appeals.

(d) After approval of a suggestion award, the Secretary shall notify the affected agency to issue a check, less appropriate payroll deductions, to be drawn from the agency's operating budget, for the payment of awards within 60 days of notification.

1. Except when the Committee elects to arrange a special ceremony in conjunction with the departmental committee, a confirming letter will be sent to the Secretary that the check was presented.

2. Awards involving vacation options under N.J.A.C. 4A:6-6.7(a)2 will be arranged by the employee's Personnel Officer on a case by case basis.

N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:6-6.6

Amended by R.1998 d.58, effective 1/20/1998.
See: 29 New Jersey Register 4590(a), 30 New Jersey Register 384(b).