By: CHRIS ENGLISH

The state representative said the law should at least include a grandfather clause excusing people who already work for New Jersey but live in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, is protesting a proposed New Jersey law that would require all state, county and municipal employees in that state to live there or move to the Garden State within 2.5 years.

The bill being sponsored by New Jersey State Sens. Donald Norcross and Kevin O'Toole would require all public employees who work in New Jersey but aren't living there to move to the state. Newly hired public employees in New Jersey would be required to establish a residency there within 4 months, according to the proposed bill.

Santarsiero said the bill should at least have a grandfather clause excusing public employees who work in New Jersey but don't live there. Those employees shouldn't be forced to move to the state, he said.

Santarsiero said the bill, if passed, would disrupt the lives of many residents who live in his Bucks County district but are public employees in New Jersey. He represents Lower Makefield, Yardley, Newtown, Newtown Township and a small part of Upper Makefield.

"You can't change the rules in the middle of the game on something unrelated to these employees' performance at work," Santarsiero said. "It's unfair and will be a hardship to these families."

He said a Pennsylvania law requiring civil service workers in the state to also live there is also unfair.

"We shouldn't be passing laws setting up barriers among different states, whether in the public or private sector," Santarsiero said.

Norcross said the proposed law is a fair and reasonable expectation of New Jersey public employees whose salaries are paid by taxpayers in that state.

"If you want a paycheck from New Jersey taxpayers, you should live here and pay your taxes here," he said. "It is blatantly unfair for our public employees to collect their salaries and benefits from the taxpayers of New Jersey while paying taxes to another state. This practice must stop."

Neither the New Jersey House nor Senate has voted on the bill, officials said.

Lower Makefield resident Teri Appelson, who works in the office of the New Jersey Attorney General, agreed with Santarsiero's assessment that the proposed bill is unfair.

"They had this rule 14 or 15 years ago and did away with it, so it surprises me they are bringing it up again," she said. "This would not be a wise move by the state of New Jersey since so many state employees live across the (Delaware) River."