Committee releases bill to restore maternity/recovery leave policy for New Jersey State Police troopers

The Assembly committee voted to release Assembly Bill 5076, which would require the New Jersey State Police to adopt a formal policy addressing maternity and postpartum recovery leave for troopers.

Union leaders and current and former troopers told the committee the division once had a published pregnancy/recovery policy that was later removed on the advice of the Division of Law. Wayne Blanchard, president of the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, said the policy was promulgated in late 2021 after an agency reorganization but was taken down without notice, leaving female troopers to use sick time or other leave with attendant financial and pension consequences. "During the grievance process... the division of law... advised the division of state police that they had to remove the recovery leave and pregnancy policy," Blanchard said.

Union counsel and witnesses described practical consequences: troopers compelled to use sick leave (subject to residency and integrity checks), forced to rely on Family and Medical Leave Act or New Jersey Family Leave Act with reduced pay, loss of pension service credit and, in some cases, COBRA to maintain health benefits. Counsel noted a scope petition to PERC is pending and said PERC has already found negotiability on related questions.

Troopers and union leaders cited a taxpayer-funded review known as the Kaufman Dolowich report (also referenced by some as the Corbin Walker report) and said the report recommended an exception for pregnant and postpartum troopers and found existing sick-leave rules imposed a disproportionate burden on women. Trooper testimony put a human face on those consequences; one trooper said the policy "randomly disappeared" from the agency intranet and she was told she "was going to have to go back to work," which then began the grievance process.

Committee members across the aisle expressed support and noted recruiting and retention implications, calling the issue both a personnel and public-safety concern. Several members asked about retroactivity for troopers harmed by the policy removal; staff and counsel said retroactivity would need further sponsor consideration and was not granted on the floor that day.

After discussion the committee voted to release Assembly Bill 5076. Several members said they expected technical amendments and ongoing negotiations; sponsors and union leaders signaled intent to continue talks with the Attorney General's Office and other stakeholders.