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 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 bill reduces the time limit for filing disputes over medical fees in workers' compensation cases from six years to two years. It directly affects injured workers and medical providers, requiring disputes to be filed with the Division of Workers' Compensation within two years of receiving payment or a denial notice. The key mechanism shortens the existing statute of limitations while also prohibiting medical providers from reporting unpaid bills to credit agencies until after a final decision by the Division. This change aims to streamline dispute resolution without altering payment obligations for authorized medical services.
This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to bar employees from receiving benefits if intoxication contributed to their injury or death. It directly affects workers injured while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, presuming intoxication caused the injury unless proven otherwise. The key provision shifts the burden to the employee to demonstrate that intoxication was not a material factor in the incident. This changes the prior standard (from the *Tlumac* case) that required intoxication to be the "sole cause" for denying benefits. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify coverage requirements for business owners. It states that self-employed individuals, partners in partnerships, members of limited liability companies, and S corporation shareholders who actively work for their business are considered "employees" *only if their business elects to cover them* through workers' compensation insurance. Businesses are not required to purchase coverage unless they have at least one regular employee (not just the owner). The bill also clarifies that insurers cannot be sued for failing to cover these business owners unless the insurer acted with gross negligence, and requires new application notices about coverage options.
This bill (S 1521) amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to exclude undocumented immigrant workers from receiving workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits. It specifically states that employees who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, lawfully present for employment, or permanently residing in the U.S. under color of law at the time of injury are ineligible for these benefits. The key mechanism is an amendment to R.S.34:15-36, which defines who qualifies as an "employee" for benefits purposes. This change directly affects undocumented immigrant workers who sustain work-related injuries in New Jersey, denying them access to these specific financial protections.
