P.L. 2020, c.037 (A4131 1R)

An Act concerning hotel sanitization and supplementing N.J.S.A.55:13A-1 et seq.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

“Front desk” means the physical location in a hotel where a guest may check-into or reserve a room.

“Guest room” means a private room made available by a hotel for occupancy by a guest. A guest room may be comprised of several interconnected rooms, such as a bathroom, living room, or multiple bedrooms, in the case of a suite.

“Guest touch-point” means any surface in a public space in hotel that is regularly touched by a hotel or motel guest. A guest touch-point includes, but is not limited to, doorknobs, door handles, counters, desks, tables, chairs, sofas, and electronics.

“Occupied guest room” means that a guest is currently checked in to a guest room regardless of whether the guest is physically present in the room.

“Public space” means any space accessible to a guest within a hotel including, but are not limited to, the lobby, including a lobby bathroom, a dining area, a hallway, an elevator, and a bathroom. A public space does not include a guest room.

2. a. The Commissioner of Health shall issue protocols for the sanitization of each hotel in the State. These protocols shall include, but not be limited to, directives requiring ¹[hotel staff] hotels¹ to:

(1) maintain continuous 24 hour, seven day a week coverage of a front desk by at least one employee ¹[per every 100 guest rooms]¹, and by at least one additional employee per every 200 guest rooms;

(2) train a front desk employee to respond to a guests’ inquiry related to health and safety, including but not limited to, the location of hospitals in the vicinity of the hotel, emergency telephone numbers, and options for seeking treatment or testing for virus diseases during a public health crisis;

(3) ensure that every guest room is cleaned and sanitized and provided with an adequate supply of clean towels, sheets, and pillowcases prior to occupancy by a new guest;

(4) ensure that every occupied guest room is cleaned and sanitized every day, and that the room is provided with an adequate supply of clean towels, sheets, and pillowcases and that the towels, sheets, and pillowcases that are changed no less frequently than once every day; (5) ensure that all public spaces are cleaned and sanitized at least once every day, and that all guest touch-points are cleaned and sanitized regularly throughout each day;

(6) provide their employees with anti-microbial cleaning products certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that are approved for use against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), other coronaviruses, influenza viruses, or other viral diseases. These products shall be used when cleaning and sanitizing each guest room, guest touch-point, and public space; and

(7) train its employees on the proper use of anti-microbial cleaning products and on proper cleaning protocols that maximize the sanitary condition of each guest room, guest touch-point, and public space.

b. The Bureau of Housing Inspection in the Department of Community Affairs shall distribute the guidelines developed by the Department of Health pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall inspect each hotel in the State for the purpose of determining the extent to which each hotel complies with the provisions of this act and the regulations promulgated hereunder.

¹[2.] 3.¹ The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedures Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

¹[3.] 4.¹ This act shall take effect ¹[on the first day of the third month next] 14 days¹ following enactment, except that the commissioner may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

Requires DOH to establish sanitization guidelines for hotels operating in State.