AJR174 AJR199 ACS

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Space, Wirths, Dancer, Mazzeo, Armato, Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, Lampitt, Assemblymen Stanley, Thomson, Freiman, Catalano, McGuckin, Assemblywoman Downey, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywoman Jimenez, Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywoman Mosquera and Assemblyman Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

Establishes “Commission to Review Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Substitute as adopted by the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

A Joint Resolution establishing the “Commission to Review the Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses.”

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

1. a. There is hereby established the “Commission to Review the Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses.”

b. (1) The commission shall consist of eleven members as follows:

(a) Three members appointed by the Governor;

(b) Three members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(d) One member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(e) One member appointed by the minority leader of the General Assembly.

(2) Of the three members appointed by the Governor: one shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Health, or the commissioner’s designee, who shall serve ex officio; one shall be a representative of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; and one shall be a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

(3) Of the three members appointed by the Senate President: one shall be a member of the Senate; one shall be a public member with background in the health care or the hospitality industry; and one shall be a public member with background in small business ownership or management.

(4) Of the three members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly: one shall be a member of the General Assembly; one shall be a public member with background in the health care or the hospitality industry; and one shall be a public member with background in small business ownership or management.

(5) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint a member of the Senate.

(6) The minority leader of the General Assembly shall appoint a member of the General Assembly.

c. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

d. (1) It shall be the duty of the commission to review State and local government rules and regulations, and Executive Orders, that were issued in response to the 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.

(2) After each meeting, the commission shall issue a report to the Governor and to the State Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), which includes 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. The commission’s reports shall identify and address: 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.

e. (1) The members of the commission shall be appointed within 20 days following the date of enactment of this resolution. Six members shall constitute a quorum of the commission. The commission shall organize as soon as is practicable after the appointment of a quorum, and shall convene its first meeting within 30 days of the appointment of a quorum. The commission shall select a chairperson from among its membership and a secretary who need not be a member of the commission. The commission may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote when a quorum is present. The commission shall meet regularly for the duration of the public health emergency, at the times and in the places the chairperson may deem appropriate and necessary, to effectuate the commission’s duties. The commission shall conduct at least three public hearings at such place or places as the chairperson shall designate.

(2) The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or agency as it may require, and as may be available to it for its purposes. The New Jersey Business Action Center shall provide professional and clerical staff to the commission, as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

(3) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses, as the members deem necessary to perform their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purposes.

f. As used in this section, “small business” means a business which has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated, and has 100 or fewer full-time employees.

2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately, and shall expire upon the expiration of the public health emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 of 2020, or any extension thereof or any replacement therefor.