NJ S1256

Bill

Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.

Introduced
02/03/2020

In Committee
11/08/2021

Crossed Over
06/30/2021

Passed

Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would resolve an apparent conflict between provisions in chapter 10 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, which permit municipalities to offer group health insurance benefits to volunteer fire fighters and emergency responders, and provisions in chapter 27A of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes regarding small employer health benefits plans. For example, although N.J.S.40A:10-30 authorizes a municipality to provide group health plans to volunteer firefighters, those volunteers are not considered eligible employees under the small employer health benefits plan statutes. This bill would clarify that these volunteers, as well as emergency responders, may be included in the group of eligible employees in municipalities regarded as small employers, and thereby receive coverage under the same group plan.

AI Summary

This bill would clarify that volunteer firefighters and emergency responders can be included in the group of eligible employees for the purposes of small employer health benefits plans in New Jersey. The bill amends the definition of "eligible employee" in the Small Employer Health Benefits Plan Act to explicitly include members of volunteer fire companies and incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency, rescue, or ambulance squads who are eligible for benefits under existing state law. This change would allow these volunteers to receive health coverage under the same group plan as other municipal employees, even though they may not be considered "full-time employees" working a normal 25-hour work week.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (4)

Steven Oroho (R)*, Troy Singleton (D)*, Linda Greenstein (D), Declan O'Scanlon (R),

Last Action

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 11/08/2021)

Official Document

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2020/S1256

(3 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2020/S1256
BillText	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/S1500/1256_I1.HTM
Bill	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/S1500/1256_I1.PDF
BillText	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S1500/1256_I1.HTM
Bill	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S1500/1256_I1.PDF

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
A1487	Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.	Substituted by S2371 (1R)	Carry Over
A3979	Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.	Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee	Same As
S2371	Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.	Received in the Senate, 2nd Reading on Concurrence	Carry Over

Bill > S1256

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary