New Jersey governor signs workers’ comp law for first responders, hotels
The new law reforms the prior law, in which first responders and firefighters had the burden of proving causation for their illnesses.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed A4882 and S716 into law, amending provisions of the state’s workers’ compensation law for first responders, including those who volunteered for 9/11 rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at World Trade Center sites.
“Thousands of courageous volunteers put their lives on the line in order to save those affected by the devastation of 9/11. We will never forget their selfless acts of heroism, just as we will always be grateful for the first responders who put their lives on the line for us every day,” Gov. Murphy said in a statement. The governor added that, “[W]e send a clear message to all of our heroes: We have your back. I am proud to sign legislation that will ensure the health benefits and compensation that these incredible men and women deserve.”
Under prior law, first responders and firefighters had the burden of proving causation for their illnesses, which often required a significant expense of time and resources. The new law reforms New Jersey’s workers’ compensation law to create a rebuttable presumption of coverage for public safety workers for certain illnesses.
For firefighters, those with seven or more years of service who suffer an injury, illness or death caused by certain types of medical conditions would not be required to demonstrate causation or exposure before receiving medical benefits and financial compensation. Other first responders, including first-aid or rescue squad members, police, corrections officers, nurses, medical technicians and other medical personnel, also would not be required to demonstrate causation of illnesses, but are required to provide evidence of exposure.
A4882, also known as the “Bill Ricci World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery, and Cleanup Operations Act,” was named after Lieutenant Bill Ricci, a professional firefighter in Clifton, N.J., who volunteered to serve at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. S716, also known as the “Thomas P. Canzanella First Century First Responders Protection Act,” was named after Deputy Chief Thomas P. Canzanella, a former Hackensack, N.J., firefighter and advocate who served at Ground Zero after 9/11.
Related: 10 questions to consider when treating trauma in first responders
Law aims to help hotel workers
Jackson Lewis reported that Gov. Murphy also signed S2986 into law on June 11. The bill mandates that “larger” hotels protect workers from sexual violence, assault and other acts of harassment and violence that can occur on hotel premises by coworkers and/or guests.
This bill would require hotels to equip hotel employees, at no cost to the employees, with panic buttons for the protection of hotel employees against inappropriate conduct by guests when hotel employees are servicing guest rooms by themselves. The panic button requirement applies to hotels with at least 25 guest rooms.
Under the bill, “panic button” means a portable emergency contact device which an employee can quickly and easily activate to summon immediate on-scene assistance from a security officer, manager or supervisor, or other appropriate hotel staff member. The bill also requires hotels to investigate these incidents and report any criminal conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agency.