A committee of the New Jersey Legislature on Thursday recommended passage of a bill that, mirroring federal law, would allow successful plaintiffs in fee-shifting job discrimination actions to claim a gross income tax deduction for counsel fees and costs.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted 11-0  to pass the bill, S-784. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration, and would need to pass through the Assembly and be signed by Gov. Philip Murphy to become law. The bill, for which there currently is no companion in the Assembly, is sponsored by the committee chairman, Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen.