Bill Text: NJ S3939 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Recycling Market Development Council.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-3)
Status: (Passed) 2020-01-21 - Approved P.L.2019, c.439. [S3939 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3939-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes three-year study on impact of minimum wage increases on businesses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a three-year study on the impact of minimum wage increases on businesses.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established, in but not of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the "Task Force on Wages and Business Viability." The task force shall consist of 11 members, including the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Education, Community Affairs, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the State Treasurer, or their designees, all who shall serve ex officio, and five public members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows: four persons nominated by an organization which represents the interests of the business community in this State and one person nominated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. All members shall serve for the duration of the task force, which shall terminate upon the expiration of four years following the date of establishment of the task force. Any public member of the task force may be removed from office by the Governor, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term. A member shall continue to serve upon the expiration of the member's term until a successor is appointed and qualified, unless the member is removed by the Governor.
b. Action may be taken by the task force by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members and a majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise of any power of the task force. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose.
c. The task force shall conduct a three-year impact study to evaluate how changes in required minimum wage levels pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4) as amended by P.L.2019, c.32, may affect the business community in the State, including the ability of businesses to maintain and increase employment levels, the necessity of businesses to reduce hours of employees, any transition of a service provided by an employee of a business to an automated system, any change in profits of businesses, any increase or decrease in businesses terminating operations, any increase or decrease in businesses commencing operations, and any other information as may be relevant to the viability of businesses in the State. The task force shall produce annual reports of its findings, making cumulative findings over the course of its study, which shall include any recommendations the task force deems appropriate for adjustments to the minimum wage increases, to ensure that the minimum wage increases do not impact the business community in a manner that would result in an overall net detriment to the State and its residents.
d. The task force may hold public meetings or hearings within the State and call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any other State department, board, or agency which the task force determines possesses relevant data, analytical and professional expertise or other resources which may assist the task force in discharging its duties under this section. Each department, board, or agency of this State is hereby directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the task force and to furnish such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
e. The task force shall issue its first annual report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, not later than December 31, 2019, and make the report available to the public by means including the posting of the report on the web sites of all of the State departments represented on the task force. The task force shall issue two subsequent annual reports and make those reports available to the public not later than December 31 of each respective subsequent year, each of which shall include a cumulative review of all information gathered by the task force, together with an evaluation of the cumulative efficacy of minimum wage increases on creating an overall net benefit for the State and its residents by considering whether the increases negatively impact the viability of the business community in the State.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the "Task Force on Wages and Business Viability" in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the task force is to evaluate how changes in required minimum wage levels may affect the business community in the State, including the ability of businesses to maintain and increase employment levels, the necessity of businesses to reduce hours of employees, any transition of a service provided by an employee of a business to an automated system, any change in profits of businesses, any increase or decrease in businesses terminating operations or commencing operations, and any other information as may be relevant to the viability of businesses in the State.
The task force will consist of 11 members, including the Commissioners of Health, Human Services, Education, Community Affairs, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the State Treasurer, or their designees, all who shall serve ex officio, and five public members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The five public members will be appointed as follows: four persons nominated by an organization which represents the interests of the business community in this State and one person nominated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.
The task force is required to issue its first annual report to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31, 2019, and make the report available to the public, by means including posting on the websites of the departments represented on the task force. The task force is required to issue each of two subsequent annual reports by December 31 of each subsequent respective year, each of which will include a cumulative review of all information gathered by the task force.
