Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that requires employers to offer benefits to essential workers unable to work.

Highlights:

• Requires the essential worker’s place of employment to provide work-related benefits if the employee contracted COVID-19 during a time period in which they were working in a place other than their own residence (Sec 2).

• Defines an essential employee as (Sec 1):

• A public safety worker or first responder;

• A worker involved in proving medical and other healthcare services, emergency transportation, social services, and other care services;

• An employee that performs functions which involve physical proximity to members of the public and are essential to public health, safety, and welfare; and

• Any other worker deemed an essential employee by the public authority declaring the state of emergency.

• Specifies that state employees who are offered the option of working at home but refused are not considered essential employees (Sec 1).

• Specifies that any workers’ compensation claims should not be considered in calculating an employee’s Experience Modification Factor (Sec 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that requires employers to offer benefits to essential workers unable to work.

Highlights:

• Requires the essential worker’s place of employment to provide work-related benefits if the employee contracted COVID-19 during a time period in which they were working in a place other than their own residence (Sec 2).

• Defines an essential employee as (Sec 1):

• A public safety worker or first responder;

• A worker involved in proving medical and other healthcare services, emergency transportation, social services, and other care services;

• An employee that performs functions which involve physical proximity to members of the public and are essential to public health, safety, and welfare; and

• Any other worker deemed an essential employee by the public authority declaring the state of emergency.

• Specifies that state employees who are offered the option of working at home but refused are not considered essential employees (Sec 1).

• Specifies that any workers’ compensation claims should not be considered in calculating an employee’s Experience Modification Factor (Sec 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that requires employers to offer benefits to essential workers unable to work.