SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4134

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

 

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4134 (1R).

      This bill clarifies the effective date of P.L.2019, c.387, which increases workers’ compensation for the loss of a hand or foot.  This bill makes it clear that the provisions of P.L.2019, c.387 will apply to all claims pending, but not yet settled, or filed on or after the date of enactment of P.L.2019, c.387, which was January 21, 2020. P.L.2019, c.387 will not be applicable to cases which have been reopened by an Application to Modify a Formal Award pursuant to R.S.34:15-27.

      The bill increases the burial expense allowance in workers’ compensation matters, if a death results from a workplace accident or occupational disease, from $3,500 to $5,000.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4134 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 2722, which was amended and also reported by the committee on this date.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that this bill may result in indeterminate annual increases in costs to the State and local government units due to the revision of the effective date of P.L.2019, c.387, which may broaden the eligibility pool of potential claims for workers’ compensation payments set forth in that law. 

      The OLS expects the bill’s $1,500 increase in the maximum amount of workers’ compensation benefits that may be used to pay for funeral and burial expenses for certain workers’ compensation beneficiaries to grow State and local government entities’ annual expenditures by an indeterminate, likely insignificant, amount.