TRENTON, NJ(TIP): – Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Shirley K. Turner which would require state employees who could not attend work due to a budget shutdown receive their full salary or wages advanced from the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee.

“During times when a consensus on the budget cannot be reached before the June 30th deadline, state workers should not have to suffer the consequences, especially since it is no fault of their own,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “This bill will ensure state workers get the wages they are due in a timely manner.”

The bill, S-2756, would provide that state employees, who are subject to an involuntary disruption of service because of a shutdown of state government due to a state budget impasse, are entitled to their full salary or wages. The bill would apply in any fiscal year when there is a late enactment of a state annual appropriations act.

“The legislature should not have to vote on whether or not to pay state workers every time there is a government shutdown,” said Senator Turner (D-Hunterdon/Mercer). “They deserve the peace of mind to know they will get paid if a shutdown prevents them from going to work.”

The bill advanced from committee by a vote of 5-0, and next heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further consideration.