Bill > S3113

Introduced Session

This bill requires that any employer relocating a call center from the State of New Jersey to one or more foreign countries must notify the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and remit the unamortized value of any direct or indirect State grant, guaranteed loan, tax benefit, and any other financial support provided by the State to the employer. The bill requires any employer that relocates a call center, or transfers one or more facilities or operating units comprising at least 20 percent of a call center's total operating volume of communications, when measured against the previous 12 month average volume of those operations, to one or more foreign countries to notify the commissioner at least 90 days prior to the relocation or transfer. The bill also requires any employer with a call center within the State of New Jersey to maintain a staffing level capable of handling no less than 70 percent of customer volume of telephone calls, emails, or other electronic communications, when measured against the previous six month average volume of those operations, originating in the State of New Jersey or an account with a service address within the State of New Jersey. If the staffing level of a call center falls below the required amount, the employer is required to notify the commissioner. The bill makes any employer that violates a notification requirement subject to a civil penalty of up to $7,500 for each day the violation continues. The bill defines a "call center" as a facility or operation where workers receive incoming telephone calls, emails, or other electronic communication to provide customer assistance or other service. The bill defines "employer" as a business entity that employs 50 or more full-time workers or 50 or more workers at a call center for at least 1,500 hours per week, excluding overtime hours. The bill requires the commissioner to maintain a list of all employers that give a notice as required by the bill and update the list on a monthly basis. An employer will remain on the list for a period not to exceed 36 months after giving the required notification. The bill also requires the commissioner to make the list public, including through the internet. An employer's being on the list will not prevent the employer from receiving, or require the employer to remit, training grants or other employment assistance to members of groups with particular need of training or other assistance, including veterans, minority groups and women. The bill also bars any employer added to the list from receiving any direct or indirect State grant, guaranteed loan, tax benefit, or other financial support from the State for 36 months following the date on which the employer is added to the list. An employer added to this list is also required to remit to the commissioner the unamortized value of any such financial support already provided to the employer. The commissioner may waive the remittance requirement if the commissioner finds that the requirement would result in a substantial loss of jobs in this State or harm the environment. Finally, the bill provides that a State department or agency, in making or awarding a contract for call center services, will grant a preference to qualified businesses located in the State and employing residents of the State, as set forth in regulations adopted by the commissioner.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Patrick Diegnan (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee (on 05/01/2017)