reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-20 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-20 - Dispute; submission to division; order approving settlement

34:15-20. Dispute; submission to division; order approving settlement  In case of a dispute over or failure to agree upon a claim for compensation between employer and employee, or the dependents of the employee, either party may submit the claim, both as to the questions of fact, the nature and effect of the injuries, and the amount of compensation therefor according to the schedule herein provided, to the Division of Workers' Compensation, as prescribed in article 4 of this chapter (section 34:15-49 et seq.). After a petition for compensation or dependency claims has been filed, seeking compensation by reason of accident, injury or occupational disease of any employee, and when the petitioner is represented by an attorney of the State of New Jersey, and when it shall appear that the issue or issues involve the question of jurisdiction, liability, causal relationship or dependency of the petitioner under this chapter, and the petitioner and the respondent are desirous of entering into a lump-sum settlement of the controversy, a judge of compensation may with the consent of the parties, after considering the testimony of the petitioner and other witnesses, together with any stipulation of the parties, and after such judge of compensation has determined that such settlement is fair and just under all the circumstances, enter "an order approving settlement." Such settlement, when so approved, notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, shall have the force and effect of a dismissal of the claim petition and shall be final and conclusive upon the employee and the employee's dependents, and shall be a complete surrender of any right to compensation or other benefits arising out of such claim under the statute. Any payments made under this section shall be recognized as payments of workers' compensation benefits for insurance rating purposes only. Amended by L.1979, c. 283, s. 8, eff. Jan. 10, 1980.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-21 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-21 - Payments in case of death; to whom made; bond

34:15-21. Payments in case of death; to whom made; bond  34:15-21. Payments in case of death; to whom made; bond. In case of death, compensation payments may be made directly to dependents of full age and on behalf of infants to the surviving parent, if any, or to the statutory or testamentary guardian of any such infant. The Division of Workers' Compensation, on application or when a petition has been filed, may order such payments to be made to the administrator or executor of the decedent, or to such person as would be appointed administrator of the estate of the decedent, and may, if compensation is to be paid weekly, require, in the discretion of the division, the filing with the division of a bond, with satisfactory surety, to the dependents, in an amount determined by the division, for the proper application of the compensation payments. If a commutation of the award is ordered and it is impracticable to make distribution of the commuted sum among the persons entitled thereto, then the division, on making the commutation, shall require a bond, with such sureties and in such amount as will, in the judgment of the division, fully secure the persons severally entitled to portions of the commuted sum.  Amended 1990,c.122,s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-22 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-22 - Dispute; procedure; agreement no bar to determination on merits

34:15-22. Dispute; procedure; agreement no bar to determination on merits  Procedure in case of dispute shall be in accordance with article four of this chapter (section 34:15-49, et seq.). No agreement between an employee and his employer or insurance carrier for compensation shall operate as a bar to the formal determination of any controversy, unless such agreement has been approved by the commissioner, the director, a deputy director or a referee designated as a "referee, formal hearings," in open court; provided, that after a petition has been filed and when the petitioner is represented by an attorney licensed in the State of New Jersey, and when it shall appear to the commissioner, the director, a deputy director or a referee designated as a "referee, formal hearings," that the only issue involved is the extent of disability, the commissioner, the director, a deputy director or a referee designated as a "referee, formal hearings," may, with the consent of the parties, after considering the sworn testimony of the petitioner and such other witnesses present, together with any stipulations of the parties, enter a determination and rule for judgment which shall include a finding of fact as to the amount of the then present disability. Such determination and rule for judgment may be reopened only in accordance with the provisions of section 34:15-27 of this Title; provided, that after a petition has been filed and when the petitioner is represented by an attorney of the State of New Jersey, and where the only issue involved is agreed by the parties to be the extent of disability, the parties may enter into a settlement concerning the extent of disability and present such settlement to the commissioner, the director, a deputy director or a referee who, after considering the sworn testimony of the petitioner and such other witnesses present together with any stipulations of the parties and the consent of the petitioner, may enter an order approving settlement which shall include a finding that the terms of the settlement are fair and just and which order shall have the same effect as a determination and rule for judgment. Such determination and rule for judgment or order approving settlement may be reopened only in accordance with the provisions of section 34:15-27 of this Title. Amended by L.1945, c. 74, p. 390, s. 9; L.1952, c. 269, p. 918, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-23 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-23 - Refusal of medical and surgical treatment by employee

34:15-23. Refusal of medical and surgical treatment by employee  Whenever it shall appear that an employer is being prejudiced by virtue of the refusal of an injured employee to accept proffered medical and surgical treatment deemed necessary by the physician selected by the employer, or his failure or neglect to comply with the instructions of the physician in charge of the case, the employer is hereby authorized to file a petition with the workmen's compensation bureau, which is hereby empowered to order proper medical and surgical treatment at the expense of the employer. In the event of refusal or neglect by the employee to comply with this order the bureau shall make such modification in the award contained in the schedule as the evidence produced shall justify.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-24 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-24 - Payment of whole award in trust

34:15-24. Payment of whole award in trust  At any time after the entry of the award, a sum equal to all future installments of compensation may where death or the nature of the injury renders the amount of future payments certain, by leave of court, be paid by the employer to any savings bank, trust company or life insurance company in good standing and authorized, to do business in this state and having an office in the county in which the award was entered, and such sum, together with all interest thereon, shall thereafter be held in trust for the employee or the dependents of the employee, who shall have no further recourse against the employer. The payment of such sum by the employer, evidenced by the receipt of the trustee noted upon the docket of the clerk of the court, shall operate as a satisfaction of said award as to the employer. Payments from said fund shall be made by the trustee in the same amounts and at the same times as are herein required of the employer until the fund and interest shall be exhausted. In the appointment of the trustee, preference shall be given, in the discretion of the court, to the choice of the employee or the dependents of the deceased employee. The expense of administration of such trust shall be fixed by the court and paid by the employer.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-25 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-25 - Commutation of award

34:15-25. Commutation of award  34:15-25. Compensation may be commuted by the bureau at its present value, when discounted at five per centum (5%) simple interest, upon application of either party, with due notice to the other, if it appears that such commutation will be for the best interest of the employees or the dependents of the deceased employee, or that it will avoid undue expense or undue hardship to either party, or that the employee or dependent has removed or is about to remove from the United States, or that the employer has sold or otherwise disposed of the greater part of his business or assets.  Unless so approved, no compensation payments shall be commuted. In determining whether commutation will be for the best interest of the employee or the dependents of the deceased employee, or that it will avoid undue expense or undue hardship to either party, the bureau and the Superior Court will regard the intention of this chapter that compensation payments are in lieu of wages, and are to be received by the injured employee or his dependents in the same manner in which wages are ordinarily paid. Commutation is to be allowed only when it clearly appears that an unusual circumstance warrants a departure from the normal manner of payment and not to enable the injured employee or dependents of a deceased employee to satisfy a debt, or to make payment to physicians, lawyers or others.  Amended 1953,c.33,s.51; 1991,c.91,s.358.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-26 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-26 - Counsel fees

34:15-26. Counsel fees  34:15-26. When any proceedings have been taken under the provisions of article two of this chapter, the bureau or the Superior Court shall, as a part of the determination and order, either for payment or for commutation of payment, settle and determine the amount of compensation to be paid by the injured employee or his dependents, on behalf of whom such proceedings are instituted, to his legal advisers, and it shall be unlawful for any lawyer, or other person acting in that behalf, to ask for, contract for or receive any larger sum than the amount so fixed. In the order determining weekly payments where no commutation is made, the bureau or the court shall also determine the amount to be paid per week from the compensation payment on account of the legal fee thus awarded, and it shall be unlawful for the legal adviser, or other person acting in that behalf, to ask for, contract for or receive a larger sum per week than the allowance thus determined.  Amended 1945,c.74,s.10; 1953,c.33,s.52; 1991,c.91,s.359.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-27 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-27 - Modification of agreement.

34:15-27 Modification of agreement.  34:15-27. An agreement for compensation may be modified at any time by a subsequent agreement. Upon the application of any party, a formal award, determination, judgment, or order approving settlement may be reviewed within two years from the date when the injured person last received a payment on the ground that the incapacity of the injured employee has subsequently increased. If a party entitled to a review under this section shall become mentally incapacitated within the two-year period, the mental incapacity shall constitute grounds for tolling the unexpired balance of the two-year period, which shall only begin to run again after the party returns to mental capacity. An award, determination, judgment, or order approving settlement may be reviewed at any time on the ground that the disability has diminished. In such case, the provisions of R.S.34:15-19 with reference to medical examination shall apply. amended 1952, c.269, s.2; 1975, c.319; 2013, c.103, s.104.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-28 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-28 - Interest on payments withheld.

34:15-28 Interest on payments withheld.  34:15-28. Interest on payments withheld. Whenever lawful compensation shall have been withheld from an injured employee or dependents for a term of 60 or more days following entry of a judgment or order, simple interest on each weekly payment for the period of delay of each payment may, at the discretion of the division, be added to the amount due at the time of settlement. The annual rate of interest on payments withheld shall equal the average rate of return, to the nearest whole or one-half percent, for the corresponding preceding fiscal year terminating on June 30, of the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund (State accounts) as reported by the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury.  Amended 1987, c.126, s.2; 2007, c.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-28.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-28.1 - Delay or refusal in payment of temporary disability compensation; penalty

34:15-28.1. Delay or refusal in payment of temporary disability compensation; penalty  If a self-insured or uninsured employer or employer's insurance carrier, having actual knowledge of the occurrence of the injury, or having received notice thereof such that temporary disability compensation is due pursuant to R.S. 34:15-17, unreasonably or negligently delays or refuses to pay temporary disability compensation, or unreasonably or negligently delays denial of a claim, it shall be liable to the petitioner for an additional amount of 25% of the amounts then due plus any reasonable legal fees incurred by the petitioner as a result of and in relation to such delays or refusals. A delay of 30 days or more shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption of unreasonable and negligent conduct on the part of a self-insured or uninsured employer or an employer's insurance carrier. L.1979, c. 468, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-28.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-28.2 - Powers of judges of compensation.

34:15-28.2 Powers of judges of compensation.  1. If any employer, insurer, claimant, or counsel to the employer, insurer, or claimant, or other party to a claim for compensation, fails to comply with any order of a judge of compensation or with the requirements of any statute or regulation regarding workers' compensation, a judge of compensation may, in addition to any other remedies provided by law: a. Impose costs, simple interest on any moneys due, an additional assessment not to exceed 25% of moneys due for unreasonable payment delay, and reasonable legal fees, to enforce the order, statute or regulation; b. Impose additional fines and other penalties on parties or counsel in an amount not exceeding $5,000 for unreasonable delay, with the proceeds of the penalties paid into the Second Injury Fund; c. Close proofs, dismiss a claim or suppress a defense as to any party; d. Exclude evidence or witnesses; e. Hold a separate hearing on any issue of contempt and, upon a finding of contempt by the judge of compensation, the successful party or the judge of compensation may file a motion with the Superior Court for enforcement of those contempt proceedings; and  f. Take other actions deemed appropriate by the judge of compensation with respect to the claim. L.2008, c.93, s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-28.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-28.3 - Fines, penalties, assessments, costs not included in expense base of insurer.

34:15-28.3 Fines, penalties, assessments, costs not included in expense base of insurer.  2. Any fine, penalty, assessment, or cost, imposed on an insurer pursuant to section 1 of this act, shall not be included in the expense base of that insurer for the purpose of determining rates. L.2008, c.93, s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-28.4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-28.4 - Rules, regulations.

34:15-28.4 Rules, regulations.  3. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act. L.2008, c.93, s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-29 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-29 - Compensation preferential lien; claim not assignable; set offs

34:15-29. Compensation preferential lien; claim not assignable; set offs  The right of compensation granted by this chapter shall have the same preference against the assets of the employer as is now or may hereafter be allowed by law for a claim for unpaid wages for labor. Claims or payments due under this chapter shall not be assignable, and shall be exempt from all claims of creditors and from levy, execution or attachment. The right of compensation granted by this chapter may be set off against disability pension benefits or payments but shall not be set off against employees' retirement pension benefits or payments. Amended by L.1977, c. 156, s. 1, eff. July 14, 1977.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-30 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-30 - Occupational disease; compensation for death or injury; exception

34:15-30. Occupational disease; compensation for death or injury; exception  When employer and employee have accepted the provisions of this article as aforesaid, compensation for personal injuries to or for death of such employee by any compensable occupational disease arising out of and in the course of his employment, as hereinafter defined, shall be made by the employer to the extent hereinafter set forth and without regard to the negligence of the employer, except that no compensation shall be payable when the injury or death by occupational disease is caused by willful self-exposure to a known hazard or by the employee's willful failure to make use of a reasonable and proper guard or personal protective device furnished by the employer which has been clearly made a requirement of the employee's employment by the employer and which an employer can properly document that despite repeated warnings, the employee has willfully failed to properly and effectively utilize, provided, however, this latter provision shall not apply where there is such imminent danger or need for immediate action which does not allow for appropriate use of personal protective device or devices. Amended by L.1949, c. 29, p. 102, s. 1; L.1979, c. 283, s. 9, eff. Jan. 10, 1980.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-31 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-31 - "Compensable occupational disease" defined

34:15-31. "Compensable occupational disease" defined  a. For the purpose of this article, the phrase "compensable occupational disease" shall include all diseases arising out of and in the course of employment, which are due in a material degree to causes and conditions which are or were characteristic of or peculiar to a particular trade, occupation, process or place of employment. b. Deterioration of a tissue, organ or part of the body in which the function of such tissue, organ or part of the body is diminished due to the natural aging process thereof is not compensable. Amended by L.1938, c. 419, p. 1208, s. 1; L.1945, c. 53, p. 318, s. 1; L.1949, c. 29, p. 103, s. 2; L.1979, c. 283, s. 10, eff. Jan. 10, 1980.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-31.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-31.2 - Short title.

34:15-31.2 Short title.  1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Protection Act." L.2019, c.156, s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 34:15-31.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 34 - Labor and Workmen's Compensation|Section 34:15-31.3 - Findings, declarations relative to workers' compensation for certain public safety workers.

34:15-31.3 Findings, declarations relative to workers' compensation for certain public safety workers.  2. The Legislature hereby finds and declares: a. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent discovery of terrorist use of anthrax against American citizens that year, millions of dollars of State and federal funds have been spent, and many thousands of man-hours dedicated, to train and equip public safety workers in New Jersey regarding the management of terrorist attacks and other man-made or natural disasters; b. Public safety workers are required by necessity to take great personal risks of serious injury, illness and death in their duties to protect the people of New Jersey from the dangers of catastrophic emergencies, including, but in no way limited to, terrorist attacks and epidemics; c. The risks of exposure to carcinogens, communicable diseases, radiation and related hazards to health, already especially high for fire, police, emergency, medical and other public safety workers, is further increased by the duties of such workers in response to catastrophic emergencies, epidemics, and terrorist attacks which may involve materials related to biological or chemical warfare, or industrial chemicals or other hazardous materials released in connection with terrorist attacks against military, governmental, industrial, infrastructural, and other vulnerable facilities; and d. Many of the severe, painful and even fatal diseases and health conditions which afflict these workers because of those exposures and duties, such as cancer, may take long periods of time to manifest themselves; e. It is therefore an appropriate public policy to modernize the workers' compensation system in this State to ensure the meeting of the critical needs of public safety workers who are New Jersey's first line of defense in the event of catastrophic emergencies, epidemics and terrorist attacks, and assure that those workers are not denied a level of support which is commensurate to the sacrifices they and their families make for the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of this State and the nation. L.2019, c.156, s.2.