Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Modify Family Leave and Disability Benefits In Response to COVID-19

April 1, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Modify Family Leave and Disability Benefits In Response to COVID-19

On March 25, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law Senate, No 2304 (Sweeney D-3/Scutari D-22)(Sumter D-35/Chapparro D-3), which expands the scope of the State’s temporary disability insurance (TDI), so that workers may obtain TDI or Family Leave Insurance (FLI) benefits by expanding that law’s definition of a “serious health condition” for which a worker may obtain the benefits, either for the worker’s own condition in the case of TDI benefits, or for the condition of a family member of the worker cared for by the worker in the case of FLI benefits.

In summary, the new law  declares that during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, Commissioner of Health, or other public health authority, a “serious health condition” includes an illness caused by an epidemic of a communicable disease, a known or suspected exposure to a communicable disease, or efforts to prevent spread of a communicable disease, which: 1) in the case of FLI benefits, prompts the issuance by a public health authority of a determination that the presence in the community of the worker’s family member in need of care by the worker, would jeopardize the health of others; or 2) in the case of FLI or TDI benefits, results in the recommendation of a healthcare provider or public health authority that a worker, or a family member of the worker in need of care by the worker, voluntarily undergo self-isolation or self-quarantine as a result of suspected exposure to a communicable disease because the presence in the community of that worker or family member would jeopardize the health of others.

The law also eliminates the current one-week waiting period for disability benefits in the indicated epidemic-related cases. The law further modifies the Family Leave Act (FLA) so that the rights to reinstatement to employment provided to workers by that act are applied to the epidemic-related cases, and modifies P.L.2018, c.10 (C.34:11D-1) so that the earned sick leave provided by that law is provided in all of the epidemic-related cases accordingly.

By | Posted in AIA-NJ News | Tagged: , , , , | Comments (0)

Categories

Archives

Architects are creative professionals, educated, trained, and experienced in the art and science of building design, and licensed to practice architecture. Their designs respond to client needs, wants and vision, protect public safety, provide economic value, are innovative, inspire and contribute positively to the community and the environment.

414 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611
(609) 393-5690
info@aia-nj.org