By Jennifer Keyes-Maloney
The Governor approved legislation, P.L.2015, c.109 (A-4608 / S-3055 (Diegnan / Ruiz)) August 28 that will double the number of arbitrators available to work on teacher tenure cases.
The new law also establishes a per diem rate of $1,250 — the current maximum — allowing the Commissioner to develop a new rate. In addition, the law also eliminates the $7,500-per-case limit on what arbitrators can be paid.
The use of arbitrators in the resolution of tenure disputes was part of the tenure reform package, The Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey or TEACHNJ Act which was signed into law in 2012.
As with the TEACHNJ Act, NJPSA will have an opportunity to nominate additional arbiters under the new law.