This bill amends N.J.S.11A:4-8 to allow appointing authorities in Civil Service, specifically for law enforcement officer titles in police departments, to hire or promote from the top five eligible candidates instead of the previous rule of three. The new language specifies that the Civil Service Commission will certify the five highest-ranking candidates from an open competitive or promotional list for the first provisional or vacancy, and for any additional vacancies, the next ranked eligible candidates will be certified. This change aims to provide police departments with a broader pool of candidates for hiring and promotions.

The bill maintains the existing provisions for other appointing authorities regulated by the Civil Service Commission, which will continue to adhere to the rule of three. The amendments ensure that the certification process remains complete when at least five interested eligibles are available, allowing for regular appointments from this expanded list. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.