NJ A6146

Special law enforcement officers appointed under P.L.1985, c.439 become eligible for temporary disability benefits under New Jersey's Temporary Disability Benefits Law, regardless of whether their employing local government has opted into the program

Local units employing special law enforcement officers are automatically classified as "covered employers" for those officers, even if the municipality has not elected general coverage for other employees

Special law enforcement officers are designated as "covered individuals" for disability benefits purposes, giving them the same access to benefits as employees of employers who have opted into the program

Local governments that previously elected coverage cannot terminate that election in a way that removes coverage from special law enforcement officers

The bill takes effect immediately and addresses a gap where special law enforcement officers may lack temporary disability benefits when workers' compensation is not immediately available for work-related injuries