AR Handbook – 91
regarding the case. The
PR&R Committee chair
and/or his/her designee(s)
shall be in attendance to
present the views of the
PR&R Committee.
4. The Executive Committee
shall consider the appeal
and shall attempt to render
its decision in writing
within seven (7) days of the
meeting. The decision of the
Executive Committee shall
be final.
Grants
A. Prior to any request for funding,
an authorized representative of
an affiliate shall:
1. consult with a UniServ
representative or
appropriate staff member.
2. complete and sign the
necessary forms.
B. An affiliate shall provide a copy
of current financial obligations
and indicate current financial
status.
C. An affiliate shall provide a
copy of the current budget, an
up-to-date-financial statement
including the status of all bank
accounts and/or investments.
D. Affiliates must have in place a
dues structure that is reasonably
comparable to other similar
local affiliates.
E. These requests will be forwarded
to the program manager for
consideration by the PR&R
Committee at the next
regularly scheduled meeting for
recommendation to the NJEA
Executive Committee.
F. In case of an emergency where
approval is required for funding:
1. The UniServ representative
shall request emergency
assistance from the program
manager of up to $2,500.
2. The program manager shall
seek approval from the
NJEA President, the PR&R
Committee chair, the NJEA
Executive Director and the
NJEA Director of UniServ.
This action shall be reported
to the NJEA Executive
Committee at its meeting
immediately following the
emergency approval.
Network Attorneys
A. Introduction
On April 30, 1976, the NEA Board
of Directors adopted guidelines
for affiliated state association
participation in the NEA
DuShane Unified Legal Services
Program. The establishment
of the NJEA network attorney
system is designed to comply
with NEA requirements and to
more efficiently coordinate the
efforts of NJEA to protect and
establish the rights of school
employees.
In order for NJEA to participate in
that program, certain standards for
compliance with those guidelines
had to be established. These standards
require that NJEA:
1. maintain a legal services
program which meets the
minimum standards set forth
in the guidelines with respect to
participating attorneys in order
to receive NEA reimbursement.
2. comply with the requirements
in order to receive NEA
reimbursement.
B. Recruitment and Selection
of Network Attorneys
Recommendations for prospective
network attorneys shall be submitted
to the program manager. The program
manager and other appropriate
NJEA staff members shall interview
prospective network attorneys.
After interviews have been completed,
the program manager
shall recommend to the Executive
Director who in turn shall make
appropriate recommendations to
the Property and Personnel (P&P)
Committee. The Property and Personnel
Committee shall submit the
recommendations to the Executive
Committee for approval. Approved
participating attorneys shall agree
to accept NJEA’s guidelines in order
to participate in that program.
No attorney shall be included on
the network who also represents a
school Board(s) or college Board of
trustees.
C. Retainer
Each network attorney or firm shall
be on a retainer determined by the
program manager and NJEA Executive
Director.
In those instances in which a retainer
has not been established, attorneys
shall be compensated according
to the approved hourly rate.
The retainer shall enable NJEA to
utilize the participating attorneys’
services for the following purposes:
1. Routine telephone calls
2. Legal advice
3. Participation in the appeal
panels
4. Program sharing
5. Training of NJEA staff
D. Legal Fees
1. Legal assistance to members and
affiliates shall be in accordance
with the PR&R Committee
Guidelines for the NJEA/NEA
Legal Services Program.
2. A network attorney will agree to
render legal services to members
and affiliates of NJEA as
required for fees not in excess of