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Committee releases bill to modernize valuation of employer-provided board and lodging in workers’ compensation
Summary
A5198 would change how employer-provided board and lodging are valued for workers' compensation benefits, replacing the statutory $25-per-week default with market value unless a different amount is fixed at hiring; the committee released the bill with recorded yes votes and no testimony.
The Assembly Labor Committee released Assembly Bill 5198, which revises workers’ compensation treatment of employer-furnished board and lodging.
Under current law the value of board and lodging furnished by an employer is treated as part of wages and fixed at $25 per week unless a different amount is fixed at the time of hiring. A5198 would instead treat the value of employer-furnished board and lodging as its market value unless the parties fixed a different amount at hiring. The bill retains an exception: if a claimant continues to receive board or lodging while receiving temporary total disability benefits, the value of that board or lodging would not be included in the calculation of the temporary total disability rate.
No witnesses testified in person; the committee read a slip from the New Jersey State Bar Association in support. Committee members recorded unanimous support in the committee vote to release the bill to the next legislative stage.
The bill will proceed through the Legislature with the committee’s endorsement.
