Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Directs DOLWD to provide information regarding employee leave and benefit rights.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act directing the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to provide certain information and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall maintain on its Internet website a webpage developed by the department, in consultation with the Department of Law and Public Safety, of information regarding any rights provided by law to employees in New Jersey to receive benefits during family leave or disability, and any rights provided by law for employees to return to work after leave.
b. The information required pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) information that an employee eligible to receive benefits for the purpose of caring for a child during the first 12 months after the child's birth, may be also eligible for temporary disability benefits pursuant to P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25 et al.) during pregnancy and recovery from childbirth for the period that a legally licensed practitioner specified under subsection (d) of section 15 of P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-39) deems necessary, and that an employee eligible for temporary disability benefits in connection with pregnancy and recovery from childbirth may also be eligible for family leave benefits to care for the child after recovery from childbirth;
(2) information regarding an employee's rights to return to work pursuant to the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.), the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act," P.L.2013, c.82 (C.34:11C-1 et seq.), and the federal "Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993," Pub.L.103-3 (C.29 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq.), including an explanation of the types of employers subject to each of those acts and an explanation of an employee's rights if the employer is not subject to those acts;
(3) links to texts of: the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.); the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25 et al.); P.L.2008, c.17 (C.43:21-39.1 et seq.); the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act," P.L.2013, c.82 (C.34:11c-1 et seq.); and R.S.34:15-1 et seq.; and
(4) instructions for claiming the benefits provided to workers pursuant to each law indicated in paragraph (3) of this subsection and information on where employers and employees can make inquiries or request resources relevant to each of those laws.
2. This act shall take effect on the 120th day after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to maintain a webpage with information regarding family and medical leave and disability benefits. The information provided is required to cover the rights of workers to receive family leave benefits under the family leave insurance law, P.L.2008, c.17 (C.43:21-39.1 et al.), temporary disability benefits under the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25 et al.), temporary disability under the workers' compensation law, R.S 34-15-1 et seq., and must include:
1. Information that an employee who receives benefits to care for a new-born child may be eligible for temporary disability benefits during pregnancy and childbirth for the period that a legally licensed practitioner deems necessary, and that an employee receiving temporary disability benefits during pregnancy and childbirth may also be eligible for paid family leave;
2. Information regarding an employee's rights to return to work pursuant to the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.), the "New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act," P.L.2013, c.82 (C.34:11C-1 et seq.), and the federal "Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993," Pub.L.103-3 (29 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq.); and
3. Links to texts of those laws, instructions for claiming the benefits provided under those laws, and information on where to make inquiries or request resources relevant to those laws.