Legislation to provide lifetime workers’ compensation benefits to surviving spouses of fire and police personnel who die in the line of duty was recently approved 71-5-0 by the full Assembly. The bill was sponsored by Assembly Democrats Annette Quijano, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Jason O’Donnell, Ruben Ramos and Nelson Albano.
“These are dangerous professions with potentially deadly consequences,” said Quijano (D-Union). “Police and fire personnel should have the peace of mind that their families will be provided for if they are killed in the line of duty. The work that they do and the risks they take warrants it.”
“Police and fire work is inherently dangerous. These firefighters and police personnel have families they have to provide for. In some cases, they may be the main breadwinners,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). ‘Making sure their families are provided for is the least we can do.”
“Few other professions involve the daily risks faced by firefighters and police personnel. This is a burden not just on them, but their families,” said O’Donnell (D-Hudson). “They should have the comfort of knowing that if their lives are ever claimed by the job, their families will be taken care of.”
“This important legislation to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in our communities,” said Ramos (D-Hudson). ‘It is the right thing to do for the families of these individuals if a tragedy occurs. For their dedication to our communities, their families should be provided for.”
“New Jersey’s firefighters and police officers perform an honorable duty in serving our communities,” said Albano (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “And sometimes, these individuals pay the ultimate price while on the job. The service of the police and firefighters should be honored by ensuring their families continue to be taken care of in the event of their death.”
The bill (A-2756) provides workers’ compensation benefits to surviving spouses of members of the state police or members of fire or police departments or forces who die in the line of duty during the entire period of their survivorship, even if the spouse remarries. Surviving spouses of deceased members of the state police or fire or police departments currently receive a lump sum upon any remarriage which occurs during the first 450 weeks of benefits. Under the bill, a surviving spouse of a state trooper or member of a fire or police department who died in the line of duty will continue to receive weekly workers’ compensation benefits as long as the surviving spouse lives, regardless of remarriage. The provisions of the bill do not apply to a surviving spouse of a member of the state police or member of a fire or police department who died in the line of duty if that surviving spouse received a lump sum payment or remarried prior to the effective date of the bill.
The legislation received is final legislative approval from the Assembly. It was approved by the Senate in October. The bill now heads to Governor for further consideration. [TLS]
Don’t think this is reasonable or sustainable. It is also inconsistent with the way current military personnel’s surviving family members r compensated. The surviving familis get a one-time lump sum woth much, much less then fire/police.
“Legislation to provide lifetime benefits” + “The bill was sponsored by Assembly Democrats” = ’nuff said.
typical of democrats to hand out money for any bleeding heart reason. listen, its horrible and honorable that brave men & women loose their life in the line of duty, but that’s a risk everyone knew walking in. there is no reason to hand out money like its tissues at a funeral. for heavens sake, we cant afford to stay afloat with all these hand-outs!! This is what life insurance is for!
Why should we the tax payers fund a re-married spouses future marriages and endeavors? If anything – any monies allocated as a ‘payout’ should be only in the name of off-spring in the form student grants.
i swear, this country is going to go bankrupt with democrats behind the wheel.
They also make a very good salary plus lifetime benefits (if they live) after only working 20 years to compensate them for the risk of their jobs.
Wow tough crowd… These are for deaths in the “Line of Duty” You know like they gave their life so others may live… Maybe we should provide benefits for their spouses. If they chose another profession they may still be here. Then again if no one chose to be firefighters or police officers who would do those jobs.
Ask the spouse of a firefighter (Volunteer or paid) or police officer if they would rather have the benefits or their spouse back. I really don’t consider this kind of bill a “HANDOUT”
Sad to see such a lack of appreciation to those who put their lives on the line everyday to keep evryone safe . I have to ask WHY ????
to those who do work when you go to work in the morning is your life in jepordy ? to those who dont work I really dont care what you think
L I F E T I M E ?????????
Are they crazy? Or just stupid?
#4 ” if no one chose to be firefighters or police officers who would do those jobs. “
DONT EVEN START WITH YOUR FEAR MONGERING RHETORIC. have you checked the civil service lists, to see the thousands that have have signed up?
have you seen the bloated lists of people that will work in the worst of nj cities?
have you seen the nj civil service test prep centers? (the test facilities book up so quickly that people are left without any test prep.)
bottom line is this, no one made them be cops nor firemen. NJ has the highest paid police in the country. this has been proven and documented. how about the smart officers and firefighters take their exuberant pay, and allocate 5% of each pay period into a life insurance policy? wouldn’t that be a smart financial decision? or is it simply easier to rely upon the government for help? how about “da gubament” find money for the pensions they promised the now retired officers? Before promising more payouts – they should honor the promises made BEFORE.
and another thing, I am sorry, as long as NJ cops continue to support the over zealous 2nd amendment infringement we have here in NJ – they have no sympathy from me when it comes to giving them more of our tax dollars.
I guess based on these comments, everyone supports getting rid of veterans preference and reducing the military’s benefits and budget?
G_d forbid we ensure the families of fallen officers and firefighters are taken care of for the ultimate sacrifice. Now do I agree that upon remarrying the spouse should forfeit the benefits, absolutely but they should receive them until that time and then their children should receive them until their 18th birthday.
And Mr. Conservative the reason NJ’s police are paid “so much” is because of our cost of living. Of course if you compare a NJ cop’s salary to that of one in rural TN it will be very different but they have a fraction of the cost of living that NJ has.
After reading these post of negative remarks about police officers , I will now rethink if I will risk my life to save a member of the public, since they dont care either way if I live or die .
How about all the people who get free wic,stamps,food,vouchers…etc etc etc……the list goes on and on
“After reading these post of negative remarks about police officers” – ANON
actually no one said anything negative about cops. we simply said that with their current pay, handing MORE money out is unsustainable and simply irresponsible. if anything we criticized politicians. NJ cops are paid much more than our soldiers – who face real combat.
“I will now rethink if I will risk my life to save a member of the public”
its either time to retire, or to quit. your the definition of coward. you are the prime example of a cop who got the job because of daddy/uncle pushed you through.
“the reason NJ’s police are paid “so much” is because of our cost of living”
really? so you are trying to tell me that since NJ cops are the highest paid, in order to keep up with our cost of living – so according to you since they are the highest paid, NJ must be the most expensive state to live in? SINCE ITS NOT – YOUR POINT IS INVALID.
try again.
Mr. Conservative: your right on target. Thank god there are still sane people out there. Its a shame all our elected officials are scared of the cops and there union. I wish the governor would finally attack them like he did to the teachers union. He even mentioned how ridiculous there salaries are in one of his state of the state addresses.
Anon: you seem to be one of those cops who are in it for the money and benefits. It seems there are a lot of cops like you out there. We need cops who care about this country and it’s citizens and not about salary.
Police and Fire in military ???
People on here are just jealous they don’t get benefits to begin with.