The bill amends New Jersey's unemployment compensation law to exempt volunteer first responders, such as volunteer firefighters and emergency service members, from coverage under this law. It introduces a new legal definition for "volunteer first responder" and specifies that stipends received by these individuals, including clothing allowances from municipalities, will not be included in their gross income for tax purposes. This change aims to alleviate the financial burden on volunteer first responders and encourage community service by ensuring that their contributions do not negatively impact their unemployment benefits.

Additionally, the bill updates the definition of "United States" in the context of unemployment compensation to include the Virgin Islands and clarifies employment criteria in agricultural labor. It establishes that individuals provided by a crew leader for agricultural work will be treated as employees under certain conditions. The overall intent of the legislation is to modernize and clarify employment definitions and conditions for unemployment compensation, while also supporting municipalities in recruiting emergency service personnel by making volunteer roles more financially viable. The provisions will take effect immediately, with the income tax exemption applying to taxable years beginning after January 1 of the year following its enactment.