Bill Text: NJ S231 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits workers' compensation judges to close workers' compensation courts in times of severe weather.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee [S231 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S231-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SEAN T. KEAN
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Permits workers' compensation judges to close workers' compensation courts in times of severe weather.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the closure of the workers' compensation courts under certain circumstances and supplementing chapter 15 of Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Severe weather conditions often make roadways hazardous to travel throughout the State;
b. Such weather conditions threaten and endanger the health, safety and resources of residents of the State and often necessitate the closing of State offices and facilities;
c. As weather conditions vary in different locations around the State and the driving conditions are different in each location, the decision to close State operated buildings in areas should be made on a local basis; and
d. Each individual workers' compensation court should be authorized to determine if their facility should remain open during periods of severe weather.
2. a. During times of severe weather conditions, including but not limited to snow, wind, rain, freezing temperatures, and flooding, the Administrative Supervisory Judge, Supervising Judge, or highest ranking judge of the workers' compensation court in each location, as the case may be, may make the determination, based on local factors, to:
(1) Excuse workers' compensation court employees from reporting to work;
(2) Delay the opening of workers' compensation court offices;
(3) Close the court of workers' compensation; or
(4) Permit early release of workers' compensation court employees with retention of a skeleton staff, if conditions permit, for critical functions.
b. Local procedures should be developed to ensure proper notification of the public and of all employees.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill allows the Administrative Supervisory Judge, Supervising Judge, or highest ranking judge of the Workers' Compensation court in each location, as the case may be, to make the determination in emergent situations and in times of severe weather conditions, based on local factors, to:
1. Excuse workers' compensation court employees from reporting to work;
2. Delay the opening of workers' compensation court offices;
3. Close the court of workers' compensation; or
4. Permit early release of workers' compensation court employees with retention of a skeleton staff, if conditions permit, for critical functions.
