This bill (S 2292) prohibits New Jersey public entities (like state agencies, counties, and municipalities) and public employees from entering into confidential settlements for claims protected under the state's whistleblower law (Conscientious Employee Protection Act). It requires all such settlements to be made public records, including details like settlement dates, parties involved, claims described, payment amounts, and legal counsel costs. The Attorney General must publish a searchable online list of these agreements. Exceptions apply only for settlements involving national security, and the bill explicitly preserves existing protections for victim identities in juvenile sex crime cases.
New Jersey bill S 257 would exempt individuals receiving unemployment compensation benefits or whose benefits ended within the past six months from paying application and appeal fees for civil service job exams. Specifically, it removes the $25 application fee for open competitive exams and the $20 appeal fee for these individuals, as outlined in amended Section 1 of P.L.1992, c.197. The bill directly affects unemployed New Jersey residents currently or recently receiving unemployment benefits, removing a financial barrier to applying for state government jobs. Fees collected under this exemption would continue to fund civil service operations as specified in the existing law. This is a policy change to improve access to state employment for unemployed residents, not a change to unemployment benefits themselves.
This New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, and distribution of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting two years after it takes effect. It defines "apparel" broadly to include most clothing for regular wear - such as athletic wear, swimwear, school uniforms, and work uniforms - but excludes personal protective equipment, military clothing, and motorcycle safety gear. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of apparel within New Jersey that use PFAS in their products.
This bill extends membership in New Jersey's Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) for public school teachers who leave their positions. It changes the time limit for maintaining membership from two years to four years after discontinuing service for most teachers. For teachers who were laid off or voluntarily left after 10+ years of continuous service, membership is extended to 20 years. This allows affected teachers more time to return to teaching or access pension benefits without losing their membership status. The change directly impacts current and former public school teachers in New Jersey who transition out of teaching roles.
This bill (S 1397) revises New Jersey's workers' compensation law to change how employer-provided board and lodging is valued when calculating benefits. Currently valued at a fixed $25 per week, the bill would instead require the market value of such housing to be used (unless a different amount was agreed upon at hiring), except during periods of total temporary disability when the value is excluded from calculations. It directly affects workers receiving compensation who receive housing from their employer. The bill was withdrawn after being incorporated into P.L.2025, c.212, meaning the changes are now part of state law.
This bill requires New Jersey school boards to give hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions when veterans are equally qualified as other candidates in all measurable criteria. It directly affects veterans seeking teaching jobs in public school districts across New Jersey, ensuring they receive priority consideration under this standard. The preference does not apply in school districts using New Jersey's Civil Service system (Title 11A), which follows separate hiring rules for classified positions. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This New Jersey bill (S 2636) provides full accidental disability benefits to police officers who permanently and totally disabled from contracting COVID-19 between June 5, 2021, and January 31, 2022. To qualify, officers must have contracted the virus while working outside their home and be permanently disabled as a direct result. The bill retroactively applies to the specified dates and ensures these benefits do not reduce other legally available worker protections. It specifically targets police officers, not all public safety workers, under strict eligibility conditions.
This bill creates a program to cover high school equivalency exam fees for low-income individuals in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Education to establish the program within six months, defining "low-income" as household income at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines. The program will pay for one exam per person, with applicants needing to verify income through specified documentation. It directs 5% of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to support this initiative, but does not change existing fee structures or eligibility for other programs.
SR 15 is a New Jersey Senate resolution urging the federal government to exempt Social Security benefits from federal income tax. It directly affects all Social Security recipients, including retirees (90% of seniors aged 65+), disabled workers, survivors, and dependents, whose benefits currently make up about 30% of their income. The resolution notes that federal taxation of these benefits began in 1984, with income thresholds unchanged since the 1990s, and states that 41 states and the District of Columbia already exempt Social Security from state income tax. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests congressional action to eliminate this federal tax.
This bill establishes a new "EMS Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) employees, making membership mandatory for all qualifying workers. It sets a 10% salary contribution rate for members and provides enhanced retirement benefits: 50% of final salary for those with 20+ years of service, plus additional payments for service beyond 20 years (up to 25), and 65% of final salary plus 1% per year over 25 (up to 30) for resigning employees with 25+ years. Existing retirement service credit for EMS employees transfers to the new EMS Part without additional cost. The bill directly affects EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and other certified EMS personnel as defined by the legislation.
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