Bill > A3999

Introduced Session

This bill creates a presumption that coronavirus disease 2019 infections contracted by essential employees, including but not limited to, health care workers and public safety workers, are work-related for the purpose of employment benefits provided for work-related injuries and illnesses, including but not limited to, workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, this bill provides that an essential employee's absence from work due to the employee contracting or being exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 will be considered on duty time, and an employer is prohibited from charging the employee any paid leave for the absence. The bill defines "essential employee" as (1) an employee who is essential in support of gubernatorial or federally declared statewide emergency response and recovery operations; or (2) an employee in the public or private sector with duties and responsibilities, the performance of which is essential to the public's health, safety, and welfare. The bill will be retroactive to March 9, 2020, the date of Governor Murphy's declaration of state of emergency with respect to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Burzichelli (D)*,  Thomas Giblin (D)*,  Carol Murphy (D)*,  Daniel Benson (D),  Linda Carter (D),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Jamel Holley (D),  Angelica Jimenez (D),  Pedro Mejia (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Cleopatra Tucker (D),  Anthony Verrelli (D), 

Substituted by S2380 (SCS/1R) (on 07/30/2020)