4. Any civilian employee who directly works with or teaches inmates or detainees in a State correctional facility, juvenile correctional facility, or juvenile detention center who, in the course of performing the employee’s official duties, suffers serious bodily injury as the direct result of an assault by the inmates or detainees with whom the employee works or teaches shall continue to receive full wages for up to six months or until the employee begins receiving compensation for that injury under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., whichever comes first.

In addition to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., the injured employee shall receive regular supplemental payments from the employer in an amount that is sufficient, when added to the compensation received under R.S.34:15-1 et seq., to equal the net wage of the injured employee at the time of the injury. The supplemental payments authorized under this section shall continue for up to six months so long as the injured employee remains employed by the State correctional facility, juvenile correctional facility, or juvenile detention center and continues to be compensated under R.S.34:15-1 et seq.

The fringe benefits afforded an injured employee under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, contract, or statute shall not be negated or impaired in any way and shall remain in full force and effect during the time that employee is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to this section.

L.2017, c.93, s.4.