Bill Text: NJ S689 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends State fiscal year 2009 appropriations provision to remove prohibition on payment of scheduled salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S689 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-S689-Introduced.html

---

SENATE, No. 689

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  PAUL A. SARLO

District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

Senator  STEPHEN M. SWEENEY

District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Gordon and S.Kean

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Amends State fiscal year 2009 appropriations provision to remove prohibition on payment of scheduled salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

  

An Act removing the State budget provision prohibiting payment of a scheduled salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation, concerning the annual appropriation act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, and amending P.L.2009, c.   .

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The following provisions of section 1 of P.L.2009, c.   (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 15) are amended to read as follows:

 

[62 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security

53 Economic Assistance and Security

DIRECT STATE SERVICES

05-4525 Workers' Compensation

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.34:15-49 to the contrary, including the reference therein to salaries of judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation determined as a percentage of the annual salary of judges of Superior Court, beginning on January 1, 2009 there shall be no increase paid from appropriations made herein for an annual salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation.]

(cf: P.L.2009, c.   , s.1)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect upon the enactment of P.L.2009, c.   (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 15 of 2009) and be retroactive to January 1, 2009.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill amends a State fiscal year 2009 appropriations provision to remove a prohibition on payment of a scheduled salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation.  The retroactive elimination of the statutory salary increase for judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation, as proposed by Senate Bill 15 of 2009, undermines judicial independence and damages the allure of tenure as a means of retaining those judges of the Division of Workers' Compensation that are sought for reappointment.