(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt and Nelson T. Albano to limit unused sick leave payouts upon retirement for current and future public officers and employees was released Monday by an Assembly committee.
“Taxpayers everywhere have had it with repeated reports of public workers retiring with six-figure payouts for unused sick leave,” said Lampitt (D-Camden). “This abuse of the public worker benefit system must come to an end once and for all. The public has had enough and it’s time for a more responsible approach.”
The bill (A-3392) amends current law to prohibit current and future officers and employees of boards of education and local governments from receiving any more than $15,000 of supplemental compensation at retirement for accumulated unused sick leave.
It would also limit the carrying forward of vacation leave to one-year only.
The bill is among nearly 20 property tax reform bills advanced by the Assembly this year.
Current law imposes these limits on officers and employees who started service on or after May 21, 2010, and for high-level officers and employees who were in service on June 8, 2007.
“I see no reason why these same reasonable restrictions shouldn’t be placed on public workers,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “It’s the fiscally responsible and ethically sound course for our state.”
The bill was released 12-0 Monday by the Assembly Budget Committee.
