Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Bill This legislative bill amends New Jersey's unemployment insurance (UI) laws to make several significant changes: 1. **Expanded Dependent Coverage**: Adds disabled, unmarried adult children of UI claimants (whose disability began before age 22) to the dependents counted when calculating weekly benefit amounts. 2. **Student Eligibility**: Removes the current requirement that claimants must have earned sufficient wages while enrolled in full-time education. Eligible individuals who are students in full-time attendance or on vacation from an educational institution are no longer deemed ineligible for UI benefits, provided they remain available for work. 3. **Training Program Eligibility**: Shifts provisions allowing UI benefits for participants in department-approved training programs from being an exception to being a standard eligibility circumstance, with participation required to align with existing provisions. 4. **Electronic Communication**: Allows claimants to request electronic notification of their initial benefit determination. 5. **Appeal Process**: Clarifies that benefits paid pending appeal are based on the initial determination until the appeal tribunal makes a decision, after which benefits are paid according to the appeal tribunal's decision. 6. **Overpayment Rules**: Removes the requirement that employers be charged for overpayments before appeal resolution. It also revises overpayment repayment rules to provide full waiver if the overpayment was caused by department or employer error (without claimant misrepresentation), or if the claimant is deceased, disabled, or recovery would be contrary to equity and good conscience. 7. **Average Weekly Wage Calculation**: Changes how average weekly wage is calculated to be based on wages with all base year employers (not just the most recent employer), with the total number of base weeks limited to 52. 8. **Extended Benefits**: Modifies requirements for claimants disqualified due to misconduct or failure to accept suitable work, requiring only completion of regular UI disqualification period rather than earning four times the weekly benefit rate. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to develop electronic access for claimants to view their benefit payment status and history. Sections 4 and 6 of the bill apply retroactively to July 31, 2023, effectively making it as if the provisions they replace (added by P.L.2022, c.120) never took effect.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill revises licensing requirements for residential substance use disorder treatment facilities in New Jersey. It requires applicants to submit financial audits by independent auditors (paid for by the applicant) and complete criminal background checks with fingerprinting for all owners and principals. The Department of Health may deny a license if audits reveal questionable financial practices or if background checks show convictions involving dishonesty or fraud. The bill also mandates unannounced inspections of existing facilities to ensure ongoing compliance. These changes directly affect facilities seeking or maintaining licensure for substance use treatment services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to hire an independent engineer when a safety dispute arises between the DOT and the contractor working on a state transportation project. The independent engineer, defined as a professional unaffiliated with the DOT or contractor, must investigate all safety concerns raised by either party and assess the project for additional safety risks. It directly affects DOT projects involving public highways or transportation systems where safety disagreements occur between the state and contractors. The bill mandates this review process to address safety issues objectively, without specifying outcomes or advocating for the policy.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's unemployment benefit rules to protect workers who leave one job to accept another but lose the new job offer through no fault of their own. It extends the time period between leaving the first job and starting the second job from seven to ten days. The change codifies a 2019 court ruling (McClain v. Bd. of Review) that established these workers should be eligible for unemployment benefits. This directly affects workers experiencing rescinded job offers during employment transitions, ensuring they can access benefits during this period.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bereavement leave provisions under the Family Leave Act (P.L.1989, c.261) and Temporary Disability Benefits Law (P.L.1948, c.110) to include leave for the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, unsuccessful adoption, and failed fertility treatments. Employees who meet eligibility requirements can take up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where they wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would otherwise qualify. The leave applies to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. This legislation specifically addresses bereavement needs not previously covered under existing leave provisions for these specific personal losses.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor to provide funding and training to county prosecutors for investigating and prosecuting wage theft cases. It mandates each county prosecutor's office to assign a dedicated assistant prosecutor to handle violations of state wage laws and the specific provision about unpaid wages (P.L.1999, c.90). The bill appropriates up to $2 million from the General Fund to cover these enforcement costs. It directly affects county prosecutors' offices and workers who face unpaid wages or wage law violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers with 10+ employees to publicly disclose salary ranges and benefits details in all job postings for promotions, new roles, and transfers. It also mandates that employers announce promotion opportunities internally to all current employees in the relevant department before making decisions, unless promotions are based solely on experience or performance. Employers who fail to comply face escalating fines: $1,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Temporary staffing firms are exempt from posting pay details for future openings but must provide this information at the time of interview or hire.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the third Sunday of November each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes an existing international observance to honor victims of traffic incidents and acknowledge emergency responders. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through appropriate activities. It directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing a state-level observance date, aligning with the United Nations and U.S. Department of Transportation's recognition of this day. The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly and was approved as P.L.2024, JR-3.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects covered by New Jersey's prevailing wage law to hold a mandatory orientation meeting for each new employee on their first day of work. The meeting must explain the employee's wages and job classification under the prevailing wage law, and the employee must sign a form confirming they received the information. Contractors must retain these signed forms for at least five years and provide them to the Department of Labor upon request. The law aims to ensure new employees understand their wage rights from the start of their employment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense specifically targeting financial exploitation of elderly individuals in New Jersey. It directly affects vulnerable seniors who may be victimized by family members, caregivers, or financial professionals (like trustees or agents) who misuse their trust. The law defines key terms such as "deprive" and "fiduciary" to clarify what constitutes exploitation, including unauthorized use of an elderly person's assets or property. This amendment adds a specific criminal penalty for such acts to New Jersey’s existing statutes, strengthening legal protections for seniors against financial abuse.