SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 967

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 28, 1996

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 967.

      This bill prohibits a person from collecting temporary disability benefits for any period during which he is disqualified for unemployment compensation benefits under subsection (b) of R.S.43:21-5, unless the disability commenced prior to the disqualification. Under subsection (b) of R.S.43:21-5, a person who is terminated because of misconduct is denied unemployment compensation benefits for the week in which the misconduct occurred and for the next five weeks; and a person who is terminated for gross misconduct that was serious enough to be considered a crime is denied unemployment compensation benefits until the person requalifies for such benefits through working again (must return to work for at least four weeks and earn at least six times his weekly benefit rate).

      The committee amended the bill to provide that no temporary disability benefits shall be payable under the State plan to any person for any period of disability due to injury sustained by the claimant while committing a crime of the fourth degree. The current law prohibits a claimant from collecting such benefits if he sustains an injury during the commission of a crime of the first, second or third degree.