The New Jersey Assembly has “fast-tracked” numerous bills with hopes of alleviating the economic impact the coronavirus outbreak could have on businesses across in New Jersey. As of Thursday night, 28 bills that make up New Jersey’s “COVID-19 Emergency Response Package” were approved by the NJ Senate.
The “COVID-19 Emergency Response Package” is aimed at not only helping business owners, but employees that might be impacted as well. As of March 19, 2020, Governor Murphy has signed 4 of the bills.
See below for a list of the bills and how they might impact you and your business:
Business:
Assembly Bill 3841, which passed in both houses, enacts a “tax holiday” for income and corporate business taxes, which would last as long no later than June 30, 2020. This date coincides with the last day Governor Murphy can sign the state budget in order to avoid a government shutdown.
Assembly Bill 3844, while withdrawn (possibly for revisions), would have required business interruption insurance, despite a “Virus” exclusion in their policies — to provide coverage for the current crisis, and then spread that financial burden via a new special purpose apportionment on other, non-Business Interruption carriers insuring New Jersey risks.
Assembly Bill 3845, which passed in both houses, allows the Economic Development Authority to award specialized funding to businesses only during a state of emergency, such as the existing public health emergency, in order to help keep business operating despite the downturn in profits.
Assembly Bill 3846, which passed in both houses, creates a $20 million “Temporary Lost Wage Unemployment Program” that would compensate workers for wages lost while in quarantine as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Further, this bill would compensate businesses that had to cover pay for any such worker.
Assembly Bill 3848, which passed in both houses, bars employers from terminating workers who take off from work to recover from a suspected case of Coronavirus.
Assembly Bill 3861, which passed in both houses, permits corporations to hold shareholders’ meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during the state of emergency.
Assembly Bill 3864, which passed in both houses, authorizes notaries public to perform certain notarial acts remotely.
Education:
Assembly Bill 3862, which passed in both houses and signed by Governor Murphy, permits professional and occupational licensing boards to expedite licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
Assembly Bill 3813, which passed in both houses, permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet the minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances.
Assembly Bill 3840, which passed in both houses, requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students who are eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic.
Assembly Bill 3842, which passed in both houses, requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students who are eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic.
Government:
Assembly Bill 3852, which passed in both houses and was signed by Governor Murphy, allows conduct of State business and legislative sessions at locations other than Trenton during periods of emergency or other exigency and through electronic means.
Assembly Bill 3849, which passed in both houses, allows up to seven days for which public agency is required to respond to a request for government records during the current period of emergency.
Assembly Bill 3850, which passed in both houses, allows a public body to conduct meetings electronically during a statewide or local emergency for the continuing operation of government.
Assembly Bill 3851, which passed in both houses, permits an extension of deadlines for adoption of county and municipal budgets under certain circumstances.
Healthcare:
Assembly Bill 3860, which passed in both houses and signed by Governor Murphy, establishes certain requirements to use telemedicine and telehealth to respond to COVID-19.
Assembly Bill 3843, which passed in both houses, requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of COVID-19 and for telemedicine and telehealth during COVID-19 state of emergency.
Assembly Bill 3854, which passed in both houses, authorizes all licensed health care facilities and laboratories to collect specimens to test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); allows waiver of staffing ratio requirements.
Assembly Bill 3855, which passed in both houses, requires food access information to be displayed on websites of the 2-1-1 system and executive branch departments during public health emergencies to the extent practicable.
Assembly Bill 3856, which passed in both houses, makes Fiscal Year 2020 supplemental appropriation of $10 million for healthcare and residential facility sanitation due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Assembly Bill 3857, which passed in both houses, makes Fiscal Year 2020 supplemental appropriation of $15 million for grants to food banks due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Assembly Bill 3858, which passed in both houses, requires the Commissioner of Human Services to issue supplemental cash assistance payments to Work First New Jersey recipients.
Housing:
Assembly Bill 3859, which passed in both houses and was signed by the Governor, allows Governor Murphy to order a freeze on any evictions or foreclosures throughout the current state of emergency. Executive Order Number 106 imposes such moratorium.
Political:
Assembly Bill 3095, which passed in both houses, allows county clerks with an additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election.
Retail:
Assembly Bill 3865, which passed in both houses, limits the return of items purchased from retail food stores during the state of emergency.
Assembly Bill 3866, would establish sales tax credit and sales tax holiday for a portion of state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The McHattie Law Firm continues to follow COVID-19 developments as they impact the workplace and will provide frequent updates on those developments. For assistance addressing issues in your workplace, feel free to contact us.
This blog is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and may not be relied upon as such. If you face a legal issue, you should consult a qualified attorney for independent legal advice with regard to your particular set of facts. This blog may constitute attorney advertising. This blog is not intended to communicate with anyone in a state or other jurisdiction where such a blog may fail to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state of jurisdiction.