(TRENTON) — Legislation Assemblymen Paul Moriarty and John Burzichelli sponsored to provide job protections for volunteer emergency responders has received final legislative approval.
Legislation to accomplish that goal — approved 76-3 by the Assembly in June — was approved 37-1 Monday by the Senate.
Under the Emergency Responders Employment Protection Act (A-1263), employers would be prohibited from terminating, dismissing or suspending employees who fail to report to work because they’re providing volunteer emergency services.
“These volunteers selflessly sacrifice their time and risk their safety to protect our communities and families,” said Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). “The least we can do is provide them protections when it comes to their livelihoods. This is the moral and decent thing to do.”
“A volunteer firefighter or rescue squad worker should not risk losing a job because they’re devoting their time responding to an emergency,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “These are the people who save lives and protect us. They deserve protections, too.”
The bill doesn’t require an employer to pay an employee who misses work because that employee is rendering emergency services, and the protections afforded under this bill apply only to volunteer emergency responders whose official duties include responding to a fire or emergency call.
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