summary
Introduced
02/05/2024
02/05/2024
In Committee
02/05/2024
02/05/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This Senate Resolution urges the Governor to safely resume in-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. In-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development have been closed since March of 2020. New Jersey's unemployment rate as of March 2021 was still 7.7 percent, and the State has only recovered 54 percent of the jobs lost in March and April of 2020 as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic-related shutdowns, meaning that many New Jersey residents require access to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services. Although many of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's services are provided over the internet or the telephone, these services may not be as accessible for elderly clients, low-income clients, or clients with disabilities. The State's numbers of new cases of COVID-19 and number of COVID-19 fatalities are decreasing, leading to a safer indoor work environment, and indoor capacity limits are scheduled to be raised on May 19th if there is no surge in cases prior to that date. A resumption of in-person services at many of the Department's agencies, including a resumption of in-person unemployment claim filings and a resumption of in-person services at One-Stop Career Centers, is in the best interests of the clientele that the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is designed to serve. Additionally, a resumption of in-person services at the Division of Unemployment Insurance would allow claimants who are victims of programming and technological glitches to more effectively redress their problems and receive their claims, and would allow the Division of Unemployment and other agencies to more effectively communicate with these victims. This resolution additionally calls for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fully staff all public-facing offices at all times.
AI Summary
This Senate resolution urges the Governor of New Jersey to safely resume in-person services at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), which has been closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution highlights that many New Jersey residents, especially elderly, low-income, and disabled clients, require better access to DOLWD services, as the state's unemployment rate remains high at 7.7 percent and only 54 percent of lost jobs have been recovered. With decreasing COVID-19 case numbers and planned increases in indoor capacity limits, the resolution argues that resuming in-person services at unemployment claim centers and One-Stop Career Centers would better serve clients, particularly those experiencing issues with online and telephone services. Additionally, the resolution calls for fully staffing all public-facing DOLWD offices to improve service delivery and help clients more effectively address problems with unemployment claims, especially those impacted by technological glitches. The resolution would be communicated to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
Committee Categories
Labor and Employment
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee (on 02/05/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/SR66 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/SR/66_I1.HTM |
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