New Jersey § 11a:7-16

§ 11a:7-16.

a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Civil Service

Commission shall establish and maintain a mentoring program for civil service law

enforcement applicants who reside in a municipality with a median income at or below

250 percent of the federal poverty level. The program shall be expanded to minority applicants if the results of a properly

conducted disparity study demonstrate particularized findings of past discrimination

and the program is narrowly tailored to remedy that past discrimination. The purpose of the mentoring program shall be to assist law enforcement applicants

through the civil service application and selection process and to help address obstacles

unique to their circumstances. The program may be conducted through mentoring projects, including workshops, group

discussions, and dissemination of information about civil service practices which

provide assistance in overcoming barriers to employment. The program shall be designed to provide a mentor to an applicant for the duration

of the exam cycle, until the mentee completes the hiring process. b. As used in this act: “ Mentee ” means a civil service law enforcement applicant participating in the mentoring program

established pursuant to subsection a. of this section. “ Mentor ” means a volunteer who agrees to participate in the mentoring program established

pursuant to subsection a. of this section. A mentor may be a current law enforcement officer in good standing who obtained

the current law enforcement position through the civil service process, a former law

enforcement officer who retired or resigned in good standing who obtained the law

enforcement position through the civil service process, or any other person deemed

appropriate by the Civil Service Commission. c. The Civil Service Commission shall develop criteria to determine eligibility in

the mentoring program as a mentor and as a mentee. Monies shall not be provided to a mentor to participate in the program and fees

shall not be charged to a mentee to participate in the program. When possible, the mentor shall be of the same racial or ethnic background as the

mentee. d. A mentor or mentee may be removed from the program for good cause as determined

by the Civil Service Commission. A mentee shall be removed from the program upon the mentee's acceptance of an offer

of employment. An applicant may participate in the program as a mentee a maximum of three times

within a 10-year period. After successfully completing the program, a former mentee may be eligible to participate

in the program as a mentor. e. At least once a year, the Civil Service Commission shall review the mentoring program

for its efficacy, and make any necessary adjustments to continue to meet the needs

and purpose of the program. f. The Civil Service Commission shall develop rules and regulations to effectuate

the purposes of P.L.2021, c. 235 .