ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2145

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 18, 2018

      The Assembly Budget Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2145.

      Senate Bill No. 2145 requires that in cases in which a workers’ compensation petitioner has received compensation from an insurance company prior to any judgment or award, the reasonable allowance for attorney fees will be based upon the sum of the amount of compensation received by the petitioner prior to any judgment, but after the establishment of an attorney-client relationship pursuant to a written agreement, and the amount of the judgment or award in excess of the amount of compensation already received by the petitioner. Currently, in cases in which a petitioner has received compensation prior to a judgment or award, a reasonable attorney fee is based upon only that part of the judgment or award that is in excess of the amount of compensation already received by the petitioner.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.