Bill > S498

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Jersey Shore Safety and Economy Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to develop safety standards and protocols to ensure safe working and operating conditions, in a manner that is consistent with the State's public health efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019, in businesses that rely heavily on the summer tourism industry in the following counties: Atlantic County, Cape May County, Ocean County, and Monmouth County. The task force is to: (1) provide guidance, including any applicable social distancing guidelines, for the reopening of these businesses in a manner that promotes the safety and wellbeing of the employees and patrons of these businesses; (2) provide an assessment of the economic impact of the task force's recommendations on these businesses; and (3) provide an assessment of the impact of the task force's recommendations on the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in the State. The task force is to comprise of 14 members as follows: (1) the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee, who will serve ex officio; (2) the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State, or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; (3) two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who will each be of different political parties; (4) two members of the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who will each be of different political parties; and (5) eight public members to be appointed by the Governor as follows: one member upon the recommendation of the Atlantic County Division of Public Health; one member upon the recommendation of the Cape May County Health Department; one member upon the recommendation of the Ocean County Health Department; one member upon the recommendation of the Monmouth County Health Department; and four members upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, including one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Atlantic County, one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Cape May County, one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Ocean County, and one member who is an active participant in tourism-related business in Monmouth County. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Health or the commissioner's designee is to serve as chairperson of the task force. The members are to serve without compensation, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the task force. The task force may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The bill directs the Department of Health to provide staff support to the task force. The task force is to report its recommendations to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health, the Cape May County Health Department, the Ocean County Health Department, the Monmouth County Health Department, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the Governor, and the Legislature no later than 30 days after the adoption of this bill. The task force will expire immediately upon the issuance of the task force report.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jim Holzapfel (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document