ASSEMBLY, No. 734

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman GREGG

An Act concerning reimbursements for certain witnesses and supplementing chapter 1 of Title 22A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

    1. Any volunteer member of any first aid or rescue squad, volunteer member of a fire department, or auxiliary police volunteer who is subpoenaed to appear as a witness in any civil action shall be entitled to a reimbursement for any wages lost as a result of that court attendance. The attorney subpoenaing the volunteer shall be liable for the reimbursement of wages authorized under this section. The amount reimbursed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the fees authorized under N.J.S.22A:1-4.

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

STATEMENT

    Under this bill volunteer member of first aid and rescue squads, volunteer firefighters, and auxiliary police volunteers who are subpoenaed to appear as witnesses in civil suits would be entitled to a reimbursement for any wages they lost due to their court appearance. Although the attorney subpoenaing the volunteer would be liable for the reimbursement payment, the actual payment would most likely become part of the settlement or included as part of the attorney's fees. The reimbursement authorized under this bill would be in addition to the fees otherwise paid to witnesses under N.J.S.22A:1-4.

Requires reimbursement of lost wages to certain volunteers subpoenaed to testify in civil cases.