SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1379

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 2026

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1379.

This bill provides that a public safety worker who participated in the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and is treated or monitored through the World Trade Center Health Program established by the Centers for Disease Control is presumed to be compensable under the State workers’ compensation law without respect to when the worker files his claim for compensation, except that the claim is required to be filed within two years after the effective date of the bill.  A worker is deemed ineligible for the benefits if the worker is eligible for benefits for the same injury, illness, or death under workers’ compensation programs of other states or the federal government.

     The bill requires the Division of Archives and Records Management in the Department of State, and each county, municipality, regional or joint public safety entity, or other agency involved in the public safety, to notify all active and retired personnel and next-of-kin, if the personnel are deceased, of the presumption of compensability within three months of the effective date of the bill.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.