ASSEMBLY, No. 2428
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 1, 2018
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Holley, Danielsen and Johnson
SYNOPSIS
Establishes compensation program for certain county corrections officers and transit police officers injured while performing official duties.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee on June 13, 2019, with amendments.
An Act concerning county corrections officers and 1transit police officers,1 supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes 1, and amending P.L.2017, c.931.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 1(New section)1 Any county corrections officer who, while in the course of performing the officer’s official duties, suffers serious bodily injury as the direct result of an assault by the inmates or detainees under the officer’s custody or charge shall continue to receive full wages for up to six months or until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., whichever comes first.
In addition to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., the injured officer shall receive regular supplemental payments from the officer’s employer in an amount that is sufficient, when added to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., to equal the net wage of the injured officer at the time of the injury. The supplemental payments authorized under this section shall continue for up to six months so long as the injured officer remains a county corrections officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.
The fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute shall not be negated or impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to this section.
12. Section 3 of P.L.2017, c.93 (C.34:15-37.3) is amended to read as follows:
3. Any State Human Services police officer, State conservation officer, State park police officer, sergeant or lieutenant transit police officer of the New Jersey Transit Police Department appointed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1989, c.291 (C.27:25-15.1), Palisades Interstate Park officer appointed pursuant to R.S.32:14-21, or full-time campus police officer appointed by a county college or four-year public institution of higher education pursuant to P.L.1970, c.211 (C.18A:6-4.2 et seq.) who, while in the course of performing the officer's official duties, suffers serious bodily injury as the direct result of an assault during the arrest or transportation of a suspect or other person in the officer's custody shall continue to receive full wages for up to six months or until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., whichever comes first.
Any senior, recruit, or assistant supervising medical security officer working under the authority of the Department of Human Services who, in the course of performing the officer's official duties, suffers serious bodily injury as the direct result of an assault by a patient or resident who requires medical security shall continue to receive full wages for up to six months or until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., whichever comes first.
In addition to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., the injured officer shall receive regular supplemental payments from the officer's employer in an amount that is sufficient, when added to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., to equal the net wage of the injured officer at the time of the injury. The supplemental payments authorized under this section shall continue for up to six months so long as the injured officer remains a State Human Services police officer, State conservation officer, State park police officer, Palisades Interstate Park officer, campus police officer, or medical security officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.
The fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute shall not be negated or impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to this section.1
(cf: P.L.2017, c.93, s.3)
13. Section 6 of P.L.2017, c.93 (C.34:15-37.6) is amended to read as follows:
6. As used in P.L.2017, c.93 (C.34:15-37.1 et seq.) and section 1 of P.L., c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), "serious bodily injury" means 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.1
(cf: P.L.2017, c.93, s.6)
1[2.] 4.1 This act shall take effect immediately.