New Jersey Assembly Bill A3368

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

"Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act"; doubles pension amounts for beneficiaries of certain deceased volunteer emergency service providers; provides for burial expenses and adjusts life insurance coverage for volunteer firefighters; permits fire code inspection surcharge.

Impact

The proposed changes would amend existing laws to reflect increased survivor pension amounts and adjusted life insurance coverage for volunteer firefighters. According to the bill, municipalities would be able to provide a maximum group life insurance policy coverage of up to $250,000, an increase from $25,000. This financial adjustment is crucial for volunteer firefighting organizations and their supporting municipalities, which often rely on funding measures like inspection surcharges to cover these additional costs.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3368, called the 'Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act,' aims to enhance financial support for the families of volunteer emergency service providers who die while performing their duties. The bill proposes to double the pension amounts that the state must pay to these beneficiaries, significantly increasing the financial safety net for families affected by the loss of a loved one in service. Furthermore, it introduces provisions for municipalities to cover reasonable funeral and burial expenses for deceased firefighters, which are not covered by existing state associations, hence providing another layer of support for the families involved.

Contention

Despite its intentions, the bill may bring about conversations around budget allocations for municipalities since they have the option to establish surcharges for fire code inspections to fund these initiatives. For some, this could mean increased financial burdens on local governments, especially in those areas already facing budgetary constraints. Moreover, the enforcement of these funding measures may raise questions regarding equity among communities with varying financial capabilities in terms of supporting their volunteer service providers.