New JerseyVolunteer responders could qualify as employees for small employer health plans
If enacted, qualifying volunteer firefighters and emergency squad members would count as eligible employees under small employer health plan laws.
What it does
Qualifying volunteer firefighters and emergency squad members would count as eligible employees under small employer health plan laws. Their numbers would not count when deciding whether an employer is small.
Argument forQualifying volunteers could become eligible for small employer health plans, giving some local emergency responders another possible route to coverage.
Argument againstVolunteers who are not eligible for benefits under the specified local laws might not qualify as eligible employees under these plan rules.
More detail
The law would count certain volunteer responders as eligible employees under small employer health plan laws. This covers volunteer fire company and fire department members, and members of incorporated volunteer first aid, emergency, rescue, or ambulance squads serving generally throughout a municipality. Volunteers must be eligible for benefits under the specified municipal or fire district laws. The act would take effect immediately if enacted.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 1Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations CommitteeLatest
- Oct 1Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd ReadingMinor
- Jan 13Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs CommitteeIntroduced
HealthcarePublic SafetyGovernment & Ethics