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Committee releases several workforce and safety bills; volunteers' compensation and work-readiness measures advanced
Summary
The Senate Labor Committee released a package of additional bills including measures on volunteer workers' compensation, firefighters' staffing negotiation standards, and a business incentive for preemployment and work-readiness training; most received witness slips in favor and were advanced with minor debate.
In addition to the bills discussed at length, the Senate Labor Committee released a set of additional workforce and safety measures on March 2 after brief testimony or witness slips.
Key items advanced included legislation clarifying workers' compensation for volunteers (S3571), a bill amending the Employer-Employee Relations Act to establish standards for contract negotiations for firefighters and fire officers (S2781), and the New Jersey Works Act (S3593) to incentivize businesses to create preemployment and work-readiness training programs with tax credits administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Witness slips from a range of organizations — including the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, council of county colleges, trade groups and hospital associations — generally registered support for workforce-development measures. Where opposition was noted (for example, certain trade groups on specific amendments), committee members said they planned to follow up with sponsors and staff to refine language before floor consideration.
Chairman Johnson closed the meeting, thanked interns and staff, and adjourned the committee.
