Changes in Workers Comp Pass NJ
In an effort to reduce delays in receiving treatment or awards and strengthen the ability to enforce the requirement for employers to provide coverage, changes to New Jersey's workers compensation law were passed yesterday.
The package of six bills strengthens the authority of workers' compensation judges to enforce their relief orders and imposes criminal penalties on employers that repeatedly fail to provide workers' compensation coverage and makes it easier for the state to prosecute them. The legislation also gives labor unions and business organizations increased representation on the panel that sets of workers' compensation insurance rates, which long has been dominated by insurance company representatives.
The package of bills was passed during a late-night legislative session focused on budget issues on June 23. Gov. Jon Corzine has not indicated whether he will sign the legislation.
“That decision will be made after they are thoroughly reviewed by the governor’s counsel,” said Corzine spokesman Jim Gardner.
The bills amount to relatively small adjustments to the state’s workers’ compensation law, said Richard M. Stokes, regional vice president for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. He said industry representatives did not object to the legislation.
“This is fine-tuning, not a major structural change,” he said.
Published on June 25, 2008
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