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Legislative Update 8-22-13

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TRENTON WATCH  

August 22, 2013

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is tracking legislation and other items important to the business community:

 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Streamlining Economic Incentives - A-3680 (Coutinho/D-29; Singleton/D-7; Watson Coleman/D-15; Ramos/D-33; Green/D-22; Bramnick/R-21; Bucco/R-25; Conaway/D-7; Wimberly/D-35; Moriarty/D-4):  Senate passed 30-4, sent to Governor. The Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 enhances and merges five of the state's economic incentive programs for businesses into the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program. The State Chamber believes enhancing the state's incentive programs will benefit small businesses, attract larger businesses to the state, and encourage new entrepreneurs - making New Jersey a formidable competitor in both the national and global economy. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  

 GOVERNMENT REFORM

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Shared Services - S-533 (Norcross/D-5; Oroho/R-24) and A-1401 (Wilson/D-5; Chivukula/D-17; Space/R-24; McHose/R-24): Senate passed the concurrence 35-0, sent to Governor. Revises current law to ensure that the contracts of certain statutorily-required municipal officials who earn tenure in their positions do not violate local shared service agreements. The pilot program would pertain to municipalities located in Camden, Morris, Ocean, Sussex and Warren counties. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  

  

LABOR

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Social Media - A-2878 (Burzichelli/D-3; Greenwald/D-6; Ramos/D-33; Conaway/D-7; Caride/D-36): Senate passed the concurrence 36-0, sent to Governor.  Prohibits an employer from requiring a current or prospective employee from providing or disclosing any user name or password, or in any way providing the employer access to a personal account or service through an electronic communications device. The State Chamber voiced concerns regarding liability issues and opposed a provision in the bill that would have imposed a new cause of action allowing employees to sue employers for violations. In the Governor's conditional veto message, he recommended changes that protect the privacy of employees and job candidates, while ensuring that employers may appropriately screen job candidates, manage their personnel, and protect their business assets and proprietary information. The State Chamber supports the language adopted from the Governor's recommendations. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  

LEGAL 

    

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Increases Penalties on Cigarette Counterfeiters - S-2516/A-3278 (Norcross/D-5; Oroho/R-24; Handlin/R-13; Barnes/D-18; A.M. Bucco/R-25):  Signed into law by the Governor on August 19. Increases penalties for crimes involving unstamped and counterfeit cigarettes, cigarette smuggling and various schemes to evade the cigarette tax, and imposes certain reporting requirements under the Cigarette Tax Act, N.J.S.A.54:40A-1 et seq., and the Cigarette Sales Act, N.J.S.A.54:40A-46 et seq. This bill establishes a new third degree crime for importing, selling, distributing, transporting, or possessing with intent to sell counterfeit cigarettes. The State Chamber believes the quality and integrity of goods sold to New Jerseyans should be maintained by increasing the penalties for violations.  Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thumbs up and down indicates the Chamber's support or opposition to issues. Call the New Jersey Chamber Government Relations Department at (609) 989-7888 with questions or comments.