LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2479

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MAY 21, 2020

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

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

Type of Impact:

Potential annual increases in State expenditures.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Health, Department of Community Affairs.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual 

 

Potential State Cost Increase

 

           Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the Department of Health (DOH) may incur indeterminate one-time cost increases to issue protocols for the sanitization of hotels, as directed under the bill.  However, such tasks are currently within the purview of the department’s responsibility and it is likely that existing staff can be utilized to fulfill these provisions of the bill, thereby minimizing or eliminating any costs to the DOH.

 

·         The OLS also concludes that the Bureau of Housing Inspection in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) may incur indeterminate annual expenses to inspect each hotel in the State for compliance with the newly established DOH protocols, to the extent that such protocols expand upon the existing responsibilities of the Bureau.  The OLS, however, cannot predict the final scope of the DOH protocols and the frequency with which the Bureau will be required to inspect for those protocols and, therefore, the cost of the bill. 

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to issue protocols for the sanitization of each hotel in the State.  Specifically, the protocols would include, but not be limited to, directives requiring hotels to: maintain continuous 24 hour, seven day a week coverage of a front desk; train a front desk employee to respond to guest inquiries related to health and safety; ensure that every guest room is cleaned and sanitized and provided with an adequate supply of linens prior to occupancy by a new guest; ensure that every occupied guest room is cleaned and sanitized every day, and that the room is provided with an adequate supply of linens that are changed no less frequently than once every day; 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; provide their employees with anti-microbial cleaning products certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for use against coronaviruses and other viruses to be used when cleaning and sanitizing the hotel; and train its employees on the proper use of anti-microbial cleaning products and on proper cleaning protocols that maximize the sanitary condition of the hotel.

      The Bureau of Housing Inspection  would distribute the guidelines developed by the DOH and inspect each hotel in the State for the purpose of determining the extent to which each hotel complies with the provisions of bill.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the DOH may incur indeterminate one-time costs to issue protocols for the sanitization of hotels, as directed under the bill.  However, such tasks are currently within the purview of the department’s responsibility and it is likely that existing staff can be utilized to fulfill these provisions of the bill, thereby minimizing or eliminating any costs.  

      The OLS also concludes that the Bureau of Housing Inspection in the DCA may incur indeterminate annual expenses to inspect each hotel in the State for compliance with the newly established DOH protocols, to the extent that such protocols expand upon the existing responsibilities of the Bureau.  The Bureau of Housing Inspection currently administers the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law, under which the Bureau is responsible for ensuring that hotels operating within the State are properly maintained and do not pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of their residents or the community.  To achieve these objectives, the Bureau conducts a five-year cyclical inspection of hotel properties which includes, among other things, cleaning and janitorial services.  For reference, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development indicated that there were over 1,300 establishments categorized as accommodations in the State in 2018.

      If may be possible for existing Bureau staff to inspect for the protocols established under the bill within the bureau’s current inspection schedule, thereby limiting the cost of the bill.  However, the OLS cannot predict the final scope of the DOH protocols and the frequency with which the Bureau will be required to inspect for those protocols and, therefore, the annual cost of the bill to the Bureau.  It is likely than any cost will be due to an increase to the Bureau’s current workforce.

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Senior Research Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).