S596

Sponsored by:

Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Turner

SYNOPSIS

Establishes compensation program for certain law enforcement officers injured while performing official duties.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning certain injured law enforcement officers and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Any State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, or juvenile detention officer who, in the course of performing the officer’s official duties, suffers bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by the inmates or detainees under the officer’s custody or charge shall continue to receive full wages until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

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 payment authorized under this section shall continue so long as the injured officer remains a State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, or juvenile detention 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 nor impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving supplement payments pursuant to this section.

2. Any parole officer who, while in the course of performing his official duties, suffers bodily injury as the result of an assault by an adult or juvenile parolee under the officer’s supervision shall continue to receive full wages until the parole officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

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 payment authorized under this section shall continue so long as the injured officer remains a parole officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

3. Any State Human Services police officer, State conservation officer, or State park police officer who, while in the course of performing the officer’s official duties, suffers bodily injury as the 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 until the officer begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

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 payment authorized under this section shall continue so long as the injured officer remains a State Human Services police officer, State conservation officer, or State park police officer and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a compensation program for State corrections officers, juvenile corrections officers, and juvenile detention officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of a riot or assault by the inmates or detainees under their custody and care. The bill also establishes a compensation program for parole officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of an assault committed by an adult or juvenile parolee under their supervision.

Under the provisions of the bill, injured officers would be entitled to their salary until their workmen’s compensation payments begin. Once their workmen’s compensation payments begin, the injured officers would be entitled to regular supplemental payments from their employer. The amount of these payments would be sufficient, when added to the injured officer’s workmen’s compensation, to equal his or her net wages at the time of the injury.

These supplemental payments are to continue as long as the officer remains a State corrections officer, juvenile corrections officer, juvenile detention officer, or parole officer and continues to receive workmen’s compensation for the injury.

Finally, the bill specifies that these supplemental payments are not to negate or impair any fringe benefits afforded an injured officer under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute and that these fringe benefits are to remain in full force and effect during the time that officer is receiving the supplemental payments authorized under the bill.

Additionally the bill’s provisions apply to State Human Services police officers, State conservation officers, and State park police officers who suffer bodily injury as the result of an assault while engaged in the arrest or transportation of a suspect or person in their custody.