LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3571

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 19, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment.

Type of Impact:

Annual increase in State and local expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  Local emergency services organizations.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

Local Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

·       The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that the bill will result in annual indeterminate State and local expenditure increases from providing volunteer emergency services workers with maximum workers’ compensation benefits regardless of outside employment.

·       The OLS notes the extent of these expenditure increases will depend on the overall increase in the number of cases driven by the eligibility expansion.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill provides that certain volunteer and other workers, including firefighters and first aid or rescue squad workers, will receive the maximum workers’ compensation benefit for an injury or death regardless of whether the worker was employed outside of that position.

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS notes that the bill will result in annual indeterminate State and local expenditure increases from providing maximum workers’ compensation benefits for volunteer emergency services workers regardless of whether the worker was employed outside of that position.  The OLS notes the extent of these expenditure increases will depend on the overall increase in the number of cases driven by the eligibility expansion under the bill.

      The Department of Labor and Workforce Development does not have statistics which show either the overall proportion or dollar value of emergency services workers’ compensation claims.  In the absence of these statistics, it is not possible to estimate the increase in total workers’ compensation claims that will result from expanded eligibility for maximum compensation.  In addition, municipalities may elect to provide coverage by paying into the State disability plan, obtaining private insurance, or self-insuring for workers’ compensation coverage.  It is not possible to anticipate how the expanded eligibility rules would impact State and local spending in any specific categories, leading to the conclusion that the bill will generate an indeterminate spending increase at both the State and local levels.

 

 

Section:

Commerce, Labor and Industry

Analyst:

John Gaudioso

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).