ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION, Nos. 174 and 199

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 13, 2021

      The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Joint Resolution, Nos. 174 and 199.

      This committee substitute would establish the “Commission to Review the Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses” and charge it with the duty to review State and local government rules and regulations, and Executive Orders, that were issued in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, declared pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, and to analyze the impact of those rules, regulations, and Executive Orders on small businesses, investment, and economic growth in the State, and the ability for the economy to recover. 

       The commission would consist of eleven members, to be appointed as follows:

· three members appointed by the Governor, which would include the Commissioner of the Department of Health, a representative of the New Jersey Chamber Commerce, and a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association;

· three members appointed by the Senate President, which would include a member of the Senate, one public member with background in the health care or the hospitality industry; and one public member with background in small business ownership or management;

· three members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which would include a member of the General Assembly, one public member with background in the health care or the hospitality industry, and one public member with background in small business ownership or management;

· one member of the Senate, to be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, and

· one member of the General Assembly to be appointed by the minority leader of the General Assembly.

      The substitute provides that members are to be appointed within 20 days following the date its enactment, and that the commission shall convene its first meeting within 30 days of the appointment of a quorum.  The substitute directs the commission to hold at least three public hearings. 

      The substitute directs the commission to issue a report to the Governor and to the State Legislature after each commission meeting:

      (1)  setting forth the commission’s findings and recommendations on the impact of existing rules, regulations, and Executive Orders, that were issued in response to the current public health emergency, on small businesses, investment, and economic growth in the State, and the ability for the economy to recover; and

      (2)  identifying and addressing: the most significant issues impacting small businesses because of COVID-19; the most significant hurdles for small businesses to overcome to recover from the effects of COVID-19; the most helpful and least helpful government resources available to small businesses; the programs that were most effective to support small businesses in innovation; and the personal protective equipment needs of small businesses.