Bill > A2859

Introduced Session

This bill extends from six to 12 months a compensation program for law enforcement officers and certain civilian employees who suffer an injury as direct result of an assault by the inmates, detainees, or certain other individuals under their custody, care, or supervision. In addition, the bill revises the standard required to qualify for the compensation program from "serious bodily injury" to "bodily injury." P.L.2017, c.93 (C.34:15-37.1 et seq.) established a compensation program for State correctional police officers, juvenile corrections officers, juvenile detention officers, State conservation officers, State park police officers, State Human Services police officers, probation officers, and civilian employees who suffer serious bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by the inmates or detainees under their custody and care. The program also is available to parole officers who suffer serious bodily injury as the result of an assault committed by an adult or juvenile parolee under their supervision. Under the program, injured officers and employees are entitled to their full salary from their employer for up to six months or until the start of their workers' compensation payments, whichever occurs first. Once their workers' compensation payments begin, the injured officers and employees are entitled to regular supplemental payments from their employer for up to six months. Under the bill, injured officers and employees would be entitled to their full salary from their employer for up to 12 months or until workers' compensation payments begin. An injured officer or employee would then receive supplemental payments for 12 months. The bill also revises the legal standard necessary to receive compensation payments from serious bodily injury to bodily injury. Under current law, serious bodily injury is defined as "bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ." Bodily injury is defined as "physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition."

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Anthony Verrelli (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document