The Senate Labor Committee heard testimony in May from various individuals closely involved with the State’s workers’ compensation system. After considering testimony of the interested parties, Senator Paul Sarlo, Committee Chairman, stated that legislative reforms would be forthcoming, adding that “In general, I would favor giving more teeth to the workers’ compensation judges when it comes to imposing sanctions on insurance companies for non-compliance” with respect to payments to workers. Sarlo added that, “We also have to take a hard look at punishing employers who refuse to obtain workers’ comp insurance which puts a greater financial burden on those who do comply.”
Note: This article was published in the June 2008 issue of the New Jersey eAuthority.