Labor & Employment (Public Safety) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 3418: Establishes Emergency Services part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency services employees.

S 3418 creates a new "Emergency Services Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced retirement and death benefits for specific emergency personnel. It directly affects full-time, certified emergency services employees - including EMTs, paramedics, fire inspectors, dispatchers, and other certified responders - as defined in the bill. The bill requires current emergency services employees in the general PERS system to transition to this new part within 120 days (with an opt-out waiver option), and mandates that all new hires in these roles enroll in the Emergency Services Part as a condition of employment. This change ensures these workers receive benefits tailored to their service roles, separate from the standard PERS structure.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4479: Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation.

This bill requires school bus drivers and personnel to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies involving students. It mandates that school buses transporting students with disabilities be equipped with specific safety features (though exact features aren't detailed in the text). The bill also requires annual safety training for all bus personnel, including emergency procedures and recognizing signs of life-threatening situations for students with disabilities. Funding for these requirements is included through an appropriation. The bill directly affects school bus operators, drivers, aides, and students with disabilities in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Safety School Transportation Public Transit Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 4058: Establishes Emergency Medical Services Provider Safety Grant Program in DOH; appropriates $10 million.

This bill establishes a one-time grant program to help New Jersey emergency medical services (EMS) providers afford safety equipment. It appropriates $10 million from federal coronavirus relief funds to cover costs for personal protective equipment (like masks and gloves), protective clothing, cleaning supplies, and other virus-related safety gear. EMS providers must apply competitively through an online process, with funding prioritized based on need (e.g., service calls, personnel numbers, and pandemic impact). The program expires once the $10 million is spent, and the state health commissioner must report annually on grants awarded and equipment purchased.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1073: Establishes Emergency Services part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency services employees.

This bill creates a new "Emergency Services Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced retirement and death benefits for specific emergency workers. It directly affects emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, fire inspectors, and other certified emergency services employees who are currently in PERS or will be hired after the bill's effective date. Key provisions require current PERS members in these roles to be enrolled in the new part within 120 days (unless they waive it), and new hires must be enrolled as a condition of employment. The bill ensures service credit earned in standard PERS for these roles will count toward benefits in the new part, aligning with existing retirement structure while offering improved benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2099: Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical services employees.

This bill creates a new retirement plan within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) workers, including paramedics, EMTs, emergency medical supervisors, and other certified personnel who provide life support services. It requires these employees to join the "EMS Part" of PERS, pay a 10% salary contribution, and receive enhanced retirement benefits: 50% of their final salary for 20+ years of service, or a special option of 65% of final salary plus additional payments for 25+ years of service. Existing retirement credits will transfer to the new plan without extra cost to employees, and the bill also provides death benefits to beneficiaries equal to half the employee's final salary. The bill directly affects all eligible EMS employees in New Jersey state, county, and municipal roles.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3977: Concerns electrical linemen and associated building trades during weather-related states of emergency.

This bill designates electrical linemen and utility workers as "first responder" personnel during weather-related emergencies declared by the Governor or President. It creates special decals for their vehicles to identify them while restoring power or water service, requiring decals to be displayed only during emergencies and removed afterward. The bill also provides civil liability protection for these workers acting in good faith during emergencies, excluding cases of willful or gross negligence. These provisions apply directly to utility workers and require public safety centers to dispatch them during declared weather emergencies.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Emergency Management Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1009: Excludes salaries and wages for emergency response personnel from municipal appropriations cap.

This bill would exempt salaries and wages for emergency response personnel (like firefighters, police, and EMTs) from New Jersey's 2.5% annual municipal budget cap. Municipalities could then increase these specific payroll costs without triggering the standard budget growth limit. The change directly affects local governments managing public safety staffing costs, providing budget flexibility for essential emergency services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3690: Requires employer to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year to paid first responders for healthcare diagnostic testing.

This bill requires employers to provide paid first responders with one additional sick day each year specifically for healthcare diagnostic testing related to their job duties. It directly affects paid law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and other paid emergency service personnel. The bill defines "healthcare diagnostic testing" as medical tests recommended by a provider to prevent or diagnose conditions linked to first responder work, with the Commissioner of Labor determining qualifying tests. Employers must grant this extra day after an employee completes their first year of service, and the Commissioner will develop implementing rules.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1045: Revises workers' compensation coverage for certain injuries to volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel.

This bill (A 1045) revises New Jersey's workers' compensation law to expand coverage for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular injuries or deaths occurring during emergency response or recovery. It directly affects volunteer and professional public safety personnel, including volunteer emergency management members, career EMTs/paramedics (even in private sector roles), and 9-1-1 dispatchers - expanding coverage beyond current law. The key change creates a rebuttable presumption that such injuries are work-related if they occur while responding to, or within 24 hours of remediating, a defined emergency (like fire suppression, medical rescue, or criminal apprehension). Rebuttal requires clear medical evidence showing work wasn't a substantial cause, or evidence of factors like intoxication or self-infliction. The law applies immediately to all pending cases.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3700: Requires employer of volunteer first responder to provide employee with one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing.

This bill requires employers with at least 25 employees to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year to employees who serve as volunteer first responders (such as firefighters, EMTs, or emergency squad members). The extra day must be used specifically for healthcare diagnostic testing recommended by a provider to prevent or diagnose conditions related to the volunteer’s duties. Employers must provide this benefit after the employee completes their first calendar year of service. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will establish rules to implement the policy, aiming to support volunteer recruitment and retention by reducing conflicts between paid work and emergency service responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development Tags Public Safety

All labor & employment bills