N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:2-5.1 : CIVIL SERVICE — APPEALS, DISCIPLINE, AND SEPARATIONS — EMPLOYEE PROTECTION AGAINST REPRISALS OR POLITICAL COERCION —5.1 - General provisions

(a) An appointing authority shall not take or threaten to take any reprisal action against an employee in the career, senior executive or unclassified service in retaliation for an employee's lawful disclosure of information on the violation of any law or rule, governmental mismanagement or abuse of authority.
(b) An appointing authority shall not take or threaten to take any action against an employee in the career service or an employee in the senior executive service with career status based on the employee's permissible political activities or affiliations. This subchapter shall also apply to State service employees in the unclassified service who do not serve in policy-making or confidential positions.

N.J. Admin. Code § 4A:2-5.1