ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1429

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 24, 2024

      The Assembly Labor Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1429.

      This bill exempts from coverage under the “unemployment compensation,” R.S.43:21-1 et seq., any services provided by a volunteer first responder who receives a stipend, including any clothing allowance, for the volunteer’s services.  The exempted first responder would not be subject to unemployment insurance (UI) taxes and not be eligible for UI benefits.  The exclusion would also exclude the first responder’s stipend from contributions to the temporary disability and family temporary disability benefits funds, and it would exclude the first responder from being eligible to receive those benefits for the volunteer first responder services.

      Under the bill, “volunteer first responder” means a volunteer firefighter, volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual who, in the course of volunteer services, is dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing medical care or other assistance.

      Additionally, the bill excludes from gross income the amounts received through stipends, including any clothing allowance, provided by a municipality for services performed by a volunteer first responder. 

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.