As reported by NJ.com, nearly 8,000 New Jersey Police Officers and Firefighters with twenty (20) years of service can now retire early under a bill signed into law on Monday. The legislation, S107, known as the “burnout bill,” allows public safety workers who reach twenty (20) years of service within the next two years
Donald Barbati
Plan for Billions in Borrowing to Avert Public Worker Layoffs Clears NJ Assembly
As reported by NJ.com, a plan offered by Governor Phil Murphy for New Jersey’s state government to make up for massive losses in tax revenue with up to $14 billion in borrowing passed the State Assembly yesterday, but still lacks support from State Senate President Stephen Sweeney. The measure cleared the lower house in…
Senate Passes Bill To Pay Benefits of First Responders Who Die of Coronavirus
As reported by NJ.com, legislation to automatically pay federal death benefits to first responders who die of the coronavirus unanimously passed the United States Senate yesterday. The measure removes the requirement that families of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians have to prove that the first responder was infected while on the job…
Law Enforcement Officers Should Be Compensated for COVID-19 Temperature Checks Taken at The Start of The Workday
On account of the COVID-19 outbreak, many employers are requiring employees submit to temperature checks prior to entering the place of employment or their specific job. For New Jersey Public Safety Officers, this is no different. To this end, the State of New Jersey and many counties, towns, and municipalities are requiring officers submit to…
Corrections Union Demands Widespread and Free COVID-19 Testing
As reported by NJ.com, the Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local Number 105 (“P.B.A. #105”), the union representing rank-and-file Correctional Police Officers employed by the New Jersey Department of Corrections, among various other State employees, and the largest law enforcement union in the State of New Jersey, is demanding widespread and free testing of both its…
Update on Hotels/Housing for First Responders Who May Have Been Exposed to COVID-19
As you are all aware, we recently posted an article about the ability of New Jersey, its counties, and municipalities to house first responders and others who may have been exposed to COVID-19 in hotels and motels at federal expense. Since that time, numerous NJ Public Safety Officers, as well as the Unions that represent…
NJ To Use Hotels For First Responders Who May Have Been Exposed to COVID-19
As reported by NJ.com, New Jersey and its municipalities just got permission to house first responders and others who may have been exposed to the coronavirus in hotels and motels at federal expense. The State became eligible to request Federal Emergency Management Agency funding after President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration March 26.…
US Secretary of the Treasury : First Responders Could Receive Hazard Pay
As reported by firerescue1.com, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a fourth stimulus package could include hazard pay for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Mnuchin told CNN Monday that his department has not yet begun work on a fourth stimulus package, as it works to implement the third package passed…
Trenton Establishes COVID-19 Test Site Exclusively For First Responders
As reported by NJ.Com, the City of Trenton opened a coronavirus testing center on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, to test the City’s first responders, namely firefighters, police, and EMS. In a statement, Mayor Reed Gusciora announced the opening of the location, at the police impound lot on North Clinton Avenue.
Only first responders serving…
Coronavirus Cases in Federal Prisons Raise Concerns About System Being Unprepared
As reported by various news outlets to include CNN.com, the first cases of coronavirus in the federal correctional system emerged earlier this week as the number of infected inmates and staff at facilities across the country continued to climb. This, in turn, has heightened concerns about the spread of the pandemic within the institutions…