This bill creates a new supplemental weekly benefit for New Jersey workers receiving disability or death compensation for injuries or deaths that occurred after December 31, 1979, starting July 1, 2026. The additional payments are funded by the state General Fund rather than employers and are calculated to maintain the same proportion of the maximum benefit rate as the worker's original award. Payments begin at 33.3% of the base amount in 2027, increase to 66.7% in 2028, and reach 100% in 2029, with adjustments to ensure total benefits do not exceed federal Social Security limits. Employers must notify the Division of Workers' Compensation within 60 days if supplemental benefits are needed, or they become responsible for paying those benefits.
This bill (S 3571) ensures certain volunteer workers in New Jersey receive the maximum workers' compensation benefit for work-related injuries or death, regardless of their income from other jobs. It directly affects volunteer firefighters, first aid/rescue squad workers, emergency management volunteers, healthcare workers registered with the Emergency Health Care Provider Registry, and volunteers for state parks, fish and wildlife, and historic trusts. Key provisions include setting compensation equal to the maximum benefit under state law (bypassing calculations based on outside earnings) and eliminating the standard seven-day waiting period for these workers. The bill clarifies existing law following a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that confirmed volunteers should receive maximum benefits irrespective of outside employment.
This bill provides workers' compensation benefits for New Jersey public safety workers (like firefighters, police, and emergency responders) who developed illnesses or injuries from exposure during the September 11, 2001 attacks, if they are enrolled in the federal World Trade Center Health Program. It creates a legal presumption that such conditions are compensable under state law, removing standard time limits for filing claims - requiring claims to be filed within two years of the bill's effective date or when the disability was known, whichever is later. If workers previously received federal or state benefits for 9/11-related conditions, those payments are credited against future state compensation to avoid duplicate payments. The bill also requires state agencies and employers to notify affected workers about these benefits through official channels.
This New Jersey bill (A2779) amends workers' compensation and temporary disability benefit laws to exclude undocumented immigrant workers from eligibility. It specifically modifies the definition of "employee" to deny benefits to individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. at the time of injury - meaning undocumented workers would not qualify for these benefits even if injured on the job. The key mechanism adds a new exclusion clause to the eligibility criteria, stating benefits are unavailable to "aliens unless they were lawfully admitted for permanent residence" or otherwise legally present under U.S. immigration law. The bill directly affects undocumented immigrant workers in New Jersey who suffer work-related injuries or disabilities. It has been introduced and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee.
This bill updates New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify coverage requirements for self-employed individuals and business owners. It requires businesses (including partnerships and LLCs) to actively elect coverage for self-employed persons or partners when purchasing or renewing a workers' compensation policy - coverage is not automatic. Businesses only need to provide this coverage if they employ at least one other employee (not the self-employed owner). The bill also specifies that sole S-corporation owners are not automatically covered unless the corporation elects it, and insurers cannot be held liable for failing to provide coverage unless they acted recklessly. This directly affects business owners who work for their own companies but have no other employees.
This bill provides tax credits to small business employers (under 25 employees and $1 million annual revenue) and farm employers in New Jersey for increased costs of mandatory insurance. Specifically, it credits businesses for the difference between their current-year expenses on workers' compensation, temporary disability, and unemployment insurance versus what they paid in the prior year. The credit is capped at $12,000 annually per business and applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax filings. The program runs from 2020 through 2029, helping qualifying small employers offset rising insurance costs.
This bill shortens the deadline for injured workers to dispute unpaid medical bills in workers' compensation cases from six years to two years. It directly affects workers who need to file claims with the Division of Workers' Compensation regarding medical fees paid or denied by employers or insurers. The key provision requires disputes to be filed within two years of receiving payment or a denial notice, rather than the current six-year standard. This change aims to streamline resolution of billing disputes while maintaining the existing process for determining reasonable fees and preventing medical providers from reporting unpaid charges to credit agencies prematurely.
This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to bar employees from receiving benefits if intoxication contributed to their work-related injury or death. Specifically, it presumes that intoxication caused the injury or death, shifting the burden to the employee to prove otherwise. The change directly affects workers injured while under the influence of alcohol or drugs during employment. This policy update responds to a 2006 court ruling that required intoxication to be the "sole cause" for denial, now establishing a lower threshold for denying compensation.
This New Jersey bill creates an "uninsured employer's fund" to pay workers' compensation claims when employers fail to provide coverage. It requires insurance companies and self-insured employers to pay annual surcharges to maintain the fund, and imposes personal penalties on employers (including $1,000 plus 15% of the award per claim, capped at $5,000) for nonpayment. Owners, executives, or directors of uninsured employers face personal liability for these penalties, extending joint responsibility beyond the business itself. The fund ensures employees receive compensation from the state when employers default, while shifting the financial burden to noncompliant businesses and their leadership.
This bill amends New Jersey's unemployment compensation law to clarify eligibility for seasonal workers who are on unpaid vacation (not due to their own action) or attending state-approved job training programs. It ensures these workers remain eligible for benefits without being deemed "unavailable for work." Key provisions require training programs to be full-time, for high-demand occupations, and approved by the state, while also adding clarifications for jury duty and funerals. The changes directly affect seasonal employees and others in similar situations, focusing on concrete policy adjustments to maintain benefit access during specific life or work circumstances.
