TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie vetoed legislation Thursday that called for workers’ compensation coverage for any death or disability if it arises from a public safety worker’s job in response to a terrorist attack, epidemic, or other catastrophic emergency.
The governor criticized the bill’s sponsor in his veto message for failing to obtain a fiscal analysis on the proposal or send it to either chamber’s budget committee.
The bill, S1778/A1196, was dubbed the Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Act.
Christie also vetoed S2163/A3696, which sought to provide to non-teaching employees of local, county or regional school districts, boards or commissions the right to submit to binding arbitration any dispute regarding whether there is just cause for a disciplinary action.
The governor signed the following bills:
S1456/A2390 (Sweeney, Vitale, Beach/Vainieri Huttle, Burzichelli, Singleton, Coughlin) – Prohibits discrimination against potential organ transplant recipient on basis of mental or physical disability
S1899/A2750 (Bateman, B. Smith/Ciattarelli, Simon, Peterson, DiMaio) – Designates portion of U.S. Route 206 bypass in Hillsborough Township as ‟Peter J. Biondi Bypass”
S2177/A2919 (Madden, Beach/Fuentes, Mosquera, Riley, Benson, Moriarty) – Creates the ‟New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act” to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
CC S2524/A3062 (Gill, T. Kean/Schaer, S. Kean, Eustace) – Requires dental plans to make out-of-network payments based on assignment of benefits
A3848/S2631 (Coutinho, Caputo/Ruiz) – Revises permitted amount of surcharge on admission charges at major places of amusement
