Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment.

S3571 FISCAL ESTIMATE

LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3571

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

DATED: MARCH 19, 2026

SUMMARY

Synopsis:

Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum
compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside
employment.

Type of Impact:

Annual increase in State and local expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Labor and Workforce Development.� Local
emergency services organizations.

Office of
Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

Local Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

�

The
Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that the bill will result in annual
indeterminate State and local expenditure increases from providing volunteer
emergency services workers with maximum workers� compensation benefits
regardless of outside employment.

�

The
OLS notes the extent of these expenditure increases will depend on the overall
increase in the number of cases driven by the eligibility expansion.

BILL DESCRIPTION

����� This bill provides that
certain volunteer and other workers, including firefighters and first aid or
rescue squad workers, will receive the maximum workers� compensation benefit
for an injury or death regardless of whether the worker was employed outside of
that position.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

����� None received.

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

����� The OLS notes that the bill will result in annual
indeterminate State and local expenditure increases from providing maximum
workers� compensation benefits for volunteer emergency services workers
regardless of whether the worker was employed outside of that position.� The
OLS notes the extent of these expenditure increases will depend on the overall
increase in the number of cases driven by the eligibility expansion under the
bill.

����� The Department of Labor and Workforce Development does
not have statistics which show either the overall proportion or dollar value of
emergency services workers� compensation claims.� In the absence of these
statistics, it is not possible to estimate the increase in total workers�
compensation claims that will result from expanded eligibility for maximum
compensation.� In addition, municipalities may elect to provide coverage by
paying into the State disability plan, obtaining private insurance, or self-insuring
for workers� compensation coverage.� It is not possible to anticipate how the
expanded eligibility rules would impact State and local spending in any
specific categories, leading to the conclusion that the bill will generate an
indeterminate spending increase at both the State and local levels.

Section:

Commerce, Labor and Industry

Analyst:

John Gaudioso

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the
Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to
respond to our request for a fiscal note.

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980,
c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).