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Committee releases bill to drop five‑year residency rule for New Jersey Racing Commission hires
Summary
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee released Assembly Bill A4208, which would remove a five‑year New Jersey residency requirement for employees of the New Jersey Racing Commission. Supporters said the change would ease recruitment of specialized staff such as veterinarians; the bill was released unanimously.
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee voted to release Assembly Bill A4208, which would repeal a five‑year residency requirement in N.J.S.A. 5:5‑25 for employees of the New Jersey Racing Commission. Proponents told the committee the change is intended to help the commission recruit specialized staff.
Sarah Ben David, executive director of the New Jersey Racing Commission, testified in support of the bill, saying, “The 5 year residency requirement has been a part of this statute since its original enactment in 1940.” She told the committee the requirement is out of step with modern hiring practices and with the New Jersey First Act, which requires public employees to establish residency within one year of employment.
Ben David told lawmakers the commission’s staff are “our greatest asset” and gave the commission’s workforce as an example: it currently has six veterinarians and expects two to leave soon because of retirement and other job opportunities. She said specialized positions like veterinarians and experienced race officials are difficult to recruit, and that the five‑year rule could prevent otherwise qualified candidates from relocating to New Jersey and complying with the New Jersey First Act.
Supporters also noted that comparable state gaming and sports regulators — including the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Casino Control Commission — do not have an analogous five‑year residency clause and that the current statute has no hardship waiver or exception. Ben David said modern background‑checking technology and remote information sharing reduce the need for a lengthy prior‑residency requirement.
A motion to release A4208 passed; the committee’s recorded votes showed affirmative votes from Assemblyman McClellan (recorded as having left a vote in the affirmative), Assemblyman Guardian, Assemblywoman Donlon, Assemblywoman Peter Paul, Vice Chairman Calabrese and the chair. The bill was released from committee and will proceed through the legislative process.
The bill’s sponsor and the next committee stop were not specified during the meeting. The Racing Commission’s testimony is part of the record and commission officials said they would provide additional information if requested.
