Scutari, Weinberg Bill to Assign Handlers to Legislative Offices to Handle Unemployment Claims Advances

Trenton – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic causing an increase in unemployment claims, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Nicholas Scutari and Loretta Weinberg which would assign handlers to legislative districts to take over managing these claims.

“In the last year, New Jersey has seen record levels of unemployment, with over 2 million initial claims processed,” said Senator Scutari (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “While we have seen a decline in claims so far into 2021, the Department of Labor and Workforce has been overwhelmed with handling this excess of claims due to a lack of staff. With additional individuals working to file these claims, this bill would alleviate some of this stress, allowing for claims to be filed at an increased rate.”

The bill, S-3505, would require the Department of Labor and Workforce to assign an unemployment claims handler to each legislative district and partisan offices during the COVID-19 public health crisis. In order to effectuate the bill’s purposes, $1.8 million will be appropriated from the General Fund.

“If the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is not going to open offices around the state the least they can do is assign case managers to the district offices,” said Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen). “For the last year, our offices have been inundated with constituent calls looking for help with their unemployment claims, leaving our staff no choice but to work around the clock trying to assist them.”

The bill cleared committee by a vote of 12-0.