NJ S3158

State employees who request paper checks in writing must receive their net pay via paper check, including those at public institutions of higher education and entities outside the centralized payroll system.

Unemployment insurance claimants must be provided written notice of three payment options: prepaid debit card, direct deposit, or paper check, with signature required to designate their choice.

Claimants may change their unemployment benefit payment method at any time, and existing claimants must receive written notice of options within 30 days of the law taking effect.

The Division of Taxation must offer taxpayers the option to receive any State tax refund as a paper check.

The bill reverses a 2010 policy change that eliminated paper checks for unemployment benefits and made prepaid debit cards the default payment method.