Sick leave pay for corrections officers signed into law by Christie
TRENTON » Following the publicity of numerous corrections officers beaten at work, Gov. Chris Christie has agreed to provide sick leave pay to prison workers assaulted by inmates.
Christie signed a bill into law on Monday that will make corrections, juvenile, parole and probation officers whole — albeit on a limited basis — if they were attacked by an inmate while on the job and suffered serious injuries.
Before the governor took action, corrections officers hurt during an inmate attack or riot had to wait until workers’ compensation kicked in to receive any pay as they are not entitled to salary while they are out of work. It could sometimes take several months before an injured officer received any compensation.
“These officers assume a significant deal of risk every day on the job, yet they have been excluded from provisions that make compensation available to other public safety officers,” Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “This new law is about taking action to eliminate that inconsistency so that people who put their lives on the line aren’t left helpless in the event of an attack.”
The corrections officers union has been on a crusade the past two years to highlight the need for sick pay protections for officers by releasing photos of injured employees and documenting attacks.
“Our juvenile justice officers risk limb and life every day while maintaining the peace in dangerous correctional facilities,” PBA Local 105 President Brian Renshaw said last month after highlighting another vicious attack at the Juvenile Medium Security Facility in Fieldsboro.
Christie conditionally vetoed the sick leave bill in May to place a time limit on how long an employee can received benefits.
Christie amended the bill to limit the supplemental compensation for up to six months for “serious” injuries. The initial pay before the workers’ compensation kicks in will also be limited to six months.
The new legislation will continue to pay officers injured at work as a result of an inmate attack until workers’ compensation is received. Then, the employees will be paid the difference of what workers’ compensation doesn’t cover from their regular salary until they can return to work.