Provides temporary disability benefits for special law enforcement officers.

This bill (A 1637) expands New Jersey's temporary disability benefits program to cover special law enforcement officers employed by local governments. It directly affects officers appointed under P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.), who previously might not have qualified. The key provision automatically includes their employers as "covered employers" without requiring separate election, and defines these officers as "covered individuals" eligible for benefits. Unlike other state employees, they won’t need to exhaust accumulated sick leave before accessing temporary disability benefits.