Upon passage of a resolution by the board of freeholders calling for the establishment of a county department of civil service the chief executive of the county shall transmit a copy of the resolution together with such other communication as he may deem appropriate to the President of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The president of the commission shall then instruct his staff to determine if administration of civil service by that county would be consistent with the administration of an equitable system governing the employment of public employees throughout the State, the best interests of public employees throughout the State and within the county requesting such approval, and the public interest in the efficient governance of the county on behalf of its citizens.
The commission shall, by rules adopted for the purpose, require the board of freeholders requesting its approval to submit a plan for the administration by such county department of a system of civil service, which plan shall include information sufficient to determine the capacity, competency and ability of the county department to administer properly the provisions of the Civil Service Law. Such plan shall not be implemented nor shall such department be operative until after receipt by the requesting board of freeholders of a statement of approval, in writing, of the Civil Service Commission and, in any event, until after the passage of 2 years from the date upon which such plan is submitted by the board to the commission. The revision, amendment or repeal of such plan and the acts and ordinances enacted in connection therewith shall be subject to the approval of the commission in the same manner as hereinabove provided except that the mandatory period of delay shall not apply and the Civil Service Commission shall exercise its authority to approve or disapprove within a reasonable time. The Civil Service Commission shall assure the compliance with provisions of the Civil Service Law of the administration of a system of civil service by any county department and the administration of such a system shall be subject to the continuing audit, review and approval of the State Civil Service Commission pursuant to rule promulgated by it for that purpose.
N.J.S. § 40:41A-131