5. a. Upon the abolishment of the division, all career service employees serving in the division on that date shall be employees of the commission and shall be transferred to the commission pursuant to the “State Agency Transfer Act,” P.L.1971, c.375 (C. 52:14D-1 et seq.) and shall retain their present career service employment status and their collective bargaining status, including all rights of tenure, retirement, pension, disability, leave of absence, or similar benefits. Future employees of the commission shall be hired consistent with the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes and the rules promulgated thereunder.

b. Upon action of the commission, all agency employees shall become employees of the commission. Such employees shall be assigned to appropriate titles by the Civil Service Commission. Those private motor vehicle agency employees who were employed by the agency on or before January 1, 2003 and who are assigned to career service titles upon employment with the commission shall, upon completion of the special probationary period described in section 7 of P.L.2003, c.13 (C. 39:2A-7), attain permanent, regular appointments in their respective titles. No special probationary period shall be required for those who have previously completed a probationary period during their previous State service employment. Except for managerial and confidential employees as defined by the “New Jersey Employer – Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.), such employees shall be covered under the State of New Jersey’s collective bargaining agreements and shall obtain all employment and collective bargaining rights consistent therewith.

c. Officers and employees of the commission shall be enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System and shall be eligible to participate in the State Health Benefits Program established pursuant to the “New Jersey State Health Benefits Program Act,” P.L.1961, c.49 (C. 52:14-17.25 et seq.).

L.2003, c.13, s.5; amended 2008, c.29, s.93.