The Senate Labor Committee on Thursday released all bills on its agenda, including three opposed by NJBIA: S-4204 (independent contractors); S-4219 (expanding types of public projects for PLAs); and S-4230 (penalties for misclassification of workers). We asked for amendments to provide for due process on S-4229 and to provide protections for business from inadvertent or honest mistakes on S-4225.
The Senate budget committee passed S-3170, which would modify the current WARN act but made several amendments. NJBIA has worked with the bill’s sponsor, Senator Joseph Cryan, over the past six months to obtain these amendments. The bill, however, still contains a severance requirement that is concerning.
The Assembly Labor Committee will consider the following bills on Monday:
- A-1110 – Increases workers’ compensation for loss of hand or foot; requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to study effectiveness of workers’ compensation program.
- A-2478 – Requires certain contractors to register under “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act.”
- A-4602 – Establishes five-year Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program.
- A-4603 – Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that participate in DOL registered apprenticeship programs; establishes grant program for tax-exempt organizations participating in DOL registered apprenticeship programs.
- A-5105 – Establishes Task Force on Maximizing Employment for People with Disabilities.
- A-5145 – Increases pre-notification time and requires severance pay in certain plant closings, transfers, and mass layoffs; requires businesses that have change of control to notify and retain employees for certain period.
- A-5564 – Prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair under “Law Against Discrimination.”
- A-5680 – Concerns labor harmony agreements for hospitality projects.
- S-62 – Requires certain contractors to register under “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act.”
- S-782 – Increases workers’ compensation for loss of hand or foot; requires Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to study effectiveness of workers’ compensation program.
- S-3061 – Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that participate in DOL registered apprenticeship programs; establishes grant program for tax-exempt organizations participating in DOL registered apprenticeship programs.
- S-3067 – Establishes five-year Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program.
- S-3468 – Establishes Task Force on Maximizing Employment for People with Disabilities.
- S-3923 – Concerns labor harmony agreements for hospitality projects.
