Assemblymen Fred Scalera & Jeff Van Drew

COMMITTEE CLEARS MEASURE REQUIRING PAID TIME OFF
FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS

(TRENTON) -- An Assembly panel today released legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera and Jeff Van Drew sponsored to require public school districts to provide paid time off to employees who are called to duty as emergency first-responders in their communities.
"Some of our state's volunteer fire and rescue personnel are employed by school districts and are increasingly worried about losing income if they respond to an emergency at work," said Scalera, who also serves as deputy fire chief in Nutley. "At a time of increased domestic demands and dwindling community volunteers, we need to use all creative means possible to beef up personnel for volunteer emergency response organizations."

The bill (A-1422) would require the board of education of a public school district to grant paid time off to any employee - other than a teacher, school nurse, or principal - who is a firefighter, first aid or rescue squad member, or ambulance driver with a volunteer company located in the municipality in which the school is located so they can respond to an alarm occurring during their regular hours.

The measure would mirror the current requirement that municipal governments grant paid time off to an employee who volunteers as a first responder when that worker answers an alarm.

"We cannot continue to have two competing systems for public employees who volunteer to protect their communities," said Van Drew. "This measure is about fairness and ensuring that we give maximum flexibility to first responders, so they can properly balance their day-to-day jobs with the essential service they provide in a time of emergency."

The Assembly Education Committee released the measure 8-0. It now goes to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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CONTACT:
Assemblyman Scalera (201) 667-4431
Assemblyman Van Drew (609) 465-0700
Erin Gold (609) 292-7065