NJ
New Jersey Assembly Bill A4047

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A4047

Introduced
3/7/24  
Refer
3/7/24  
Refer
3/11/24  
Report Pass
6/26/24  
Engrossed
6/28/24  
Enrolled
10/28/24  
Chaptered
12/12/24  

Caption

Revises unemployment compensation law.

Impact

This bill will significantly impact state laws governing unemployment compensation, aimed at providing a more robust framework for eligibility and benefit calculations. The amendments proposed in A4047 are geared toward addressing past inefficiencies in the unemployment system, with a focus on ensuring that individuals are not unfairly denied benefits while also preventing potential overpayments. These changes could lead to better support for unemployed residents while balancing the financial health of the state's unemployment trust fund.

Summary

A4047 aims to revise the state's unemployment compensation law by amending sections relating to benefit eligibility and administration. The bill focuses on enhancing the efficiency of unemployment benefits distribution, ensuring timely payments, and outlining clear eligibility criteria for claimants. Specific provisions include adjustments to the methods of calculating benefits, conditions for disqualification, and processes for addressing overpayments. Additionally, there is an emphasis on streamlining the claims process to better support individuals seeking employment during periods of unemployment.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding A4047 appears positive, particularly from those advocating for workers' rights and efficient public services. Supporters of the bill argue that it will provide much-needed clarity and help more individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to. However, some concerns have been raised about the potential for stricter eligibility criteria that might exclude vulnerable populations from receiving assistance, showcasing a divide in opinions among legislators and advocacy groups.

Contention

Key points of contention arise around the criteria for disqualification and the measures for recovering overpayments. While some legislators are in favor of more stringent rules to protect the unemployment fund from misuse, others worry that such regulations could impede access for those genuinely in need. The discussion indicates a tension between ensuring fiscal responsibility and providing safety nets for unemployed citizens, highlighting divergent priorities among policymakers.

Latest A4047 Activity

Companion Bills

NJ S2949

Same As Revises unemployment compensation law.

Similar Bills

NJ S2949

Revises unemployment compensation law.

NJ A5208

"Comprehensive Reimbursement and Duration of Leave Expansion Act"; increases family leave insurance benefits and duration of leave for child bonding.

KS HB2570

Substitute for HB 2570 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment, wages and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules and lowering rates for new employers, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant additional temporary unemployment in certain circumstances, requiring the secretary to publish certain information, abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund and providing relief for negative account balance employers.

KS SB478

Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant temporary unemployment, requiring the secretary to annually publish certain data and abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund.

NJ S3310

Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund.

NJ S733

Provides for transfers from General Fund to UI trust fund, reduces employer contributions to UI trust fund, assesses contributions from employers to repay transferred amounts, and provides tax credits to small businesses to offset UI tax increases.

NJ A2152

Allocates sufficient funds to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ S2758

Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.