Bill Ends ‘Boat Checks’ For Banked Sick Time

New Jersey's Republican governor and Democratic controlled Legislature have long agreed it's time to stop large end-of-career payouts for unused sick days.

There's been less agreement on how to legislate an end to the payouts Gov. Chris Christie mockingly calls "boat checks."

An Assembly committee advanced the latest proposal Thursday. The measure would end payouts that can reach six figures going forward, but would allow employees to keep what they've lawfully accrued to date.

Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt's bill would allow union workers to bank up to $7,500 in sick time that could be credited toward their health insurance payments in retirement.

The accrued time would have no cash value, a provision Christie has insisted on.

The bills -- one covering union workers and one for non-union staff -- were OK'd in a 3-2 party-line vote.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)