Jersey lawmakers want to limit sick time payouts for retiring workers

New Jersey Senate bills seeking to cut costs in the state are targeting the costs of local government. One of the bills tries to limit the amount a worker can be paid for unused sick time.

New Jersey lawmakers are considering measures to help local governments control costs. One of the bills will be examined by a Senate Committee today.

School district and municipal employees would be limited to a $15,000 payout at retirement for the amount of unused sick leave they accumulated under terms of legislation sponsored by Senator Paul Sarlo.

“You could no longer accrue anything above $15,000,” Sarlo says. “If you have accrued sick time you would just basically freeze that sick time. You wouldn’t be able to lose that sick time.”

Sarlo’s bill would also limit the amount of sick time public employees could use in their last twelve months of work so they would not become a no-show worker.

The legislation is part of a so-called toolkit lawmakers are examining to help municipalities control expenses. Senate President Steve Sweeney says the measures will be ready for a vote in the Legislature this fall.