Monday, June 5, 2023

Legislative Update

Teen Working Papers Process Now Online

As of June 1, 2023, working papers for minors have gone digital. The website, MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, is now live. With this updated process, minor workers, their caregivers, and employers fill out their respective parts on the online application instead of using the old paper form. 

The website, MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, is now live.

In short, the new process is as follows:

• Teenagers and employers each go to www.MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov to get started.
• Employers receive a unique 8-digit code when they register, which they share with every minor they hire.
• The minor completes the online working papers application, entering their caregiver’s name and email address, and the employer’s 8-digit code, which links the application to a specific employer.
• Emails prompt the employer and teen's caregiver — a parent or guardian — to complete their portions of the application and sign their permission. Caregivers also will be asked to upload a copy of a birth certificate, passport or other official document verifying the The minor begins working when their application is approved.

To learn more, click here.

Please reach out to Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com if you have any questions. 

CCSNJ Testifies to Protect PA/NJ Reciprocity Agreement

On May 18, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) Manager of Government Affairs, Hilary Chebra, provided testimony before the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee on A-4694 (Tully/Swain).

This bill, A-4694 (Tully/Swain), would create a "convenience of the employer" test for residents of states that impose a similar test. It would also require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to create an employer tax credit program awarding up to $25 million in grants for out of state businesses to assign their New Jersey resident employees to New Jersey locations.

The CCSNJ successfully fought for and secured an amendment to ensure that the bill will have no effect on the New Jersey/Pennsylvania Income Tax Reciprocity Agreement. The reciprocity agreement, which was signed in 1976, allows that New Jersey collects income taxes from New Jerseyans who work in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania collects taxes from people living in Pennsylvania and working in New Jersey. Neither state collects income taxes from residents of the other state whose employers are across the river from their home. 

To read the CCSNJ testimony on A-4694, click here.

To read press coverage on the testimony, click here.

Please reach out to Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com if you have any questions. 

Guest Column

Do You Use Temporary Workers???

by Susan S. Hodges, Esq.

Shareholder & Chair, Labor and Employment, Parker McCay

Earlier this year, Governor Murphy signed a temporary workers’ bill of rights into law. This law is intended to help stop the abuse of labor rights for temporary workers. As it stands now, the protections are limited to temporary workers in specific classifications. But if you work for a staffing agency or use a staffing agency to employ temporary workers, I would recommend that you check with your counsel to see if the workers that you use are covered by this law.

One of the most significant requirements in the new law is that covered temporary workers must be paid, at least, the average rate of pay and average cost of benefits (or the cash equivalent thereof) as employees of the actual client/employer that are “performing the same or substantially similar work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skills, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions[.]” There are monetary penalties for failing to comply with this requirement.

The law also includes notice and recordkeeping requirements, limitations on transportation requirements and fees, the client’s right to offer and laborers’ right to accept permanent positions, certification requirements, surety bond requirements, as well as anti-retaliation requirements. It is a drastic change in how temporary workers have been treated in New Jersey. In light of these changes, both agencies and their clients should review their employment policies and practices, and their mutual contracts, in order to ensure compliance with the law to avoid costly penalties.



Resource Center

2023 NJDEP Recycling Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the 2023 NJDEP Recycling Award. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP,) in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, annually recognizes excellence in recycling to highlight program successes achieved by individuals, agencies, businesses and others who help keep New Jersey communities clean and healthy.

Nominations may be submitted in these categories: Institution, Business, Retail Merchant, Government, Leadership, Rising Star, Recycling Industry, Outstanding Educator/Educational Program, Volunteer Citizen, Source Reduction/Resource Management/Sustainability and, new this year, Recycled Products Procurement Star.

The new category recognizes any business, institution, government agency or other organization that has implemented a post-consumer recycled products procurement program or expanded an existing post-consumer recycled products procurement program. Post-consumer recycled products are made with a percentage of recycled content material derived from goods that were used by consumers, collected and then recycled.

Nominations are due Friday, July 21 and awardees will be notified in September. Award winners will be honored at a recognition ceremony this fall.

To view the 2023 Recycling Awards nomination application and information packet, visit www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/awards.htm or www.recycle.nj.gov

For more about the Recycling Awards Program, email Steven Rinaldi at njrecycles@dep.nj.gov

Learn more about the Air, Energy & Materials Sustainability program at www.nj.gov/dep/aqes or www.facebook.com/NJDEPAEMS

NJMEP Releases National Strategic Supply Chain tool CONNEX

The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program NJMEP is pleased to announce the launch of The Strategic Supply Chain Database CONNEX™ NEW JERSEY This online platform provides one-stop access for manufacturers in the state to connect with each other, find local and national suppliers, discover new business opportunities, and manage their supply chains.

New Jersey manufacturers who register between May 15^th to July 15^th will get complimentary National access for life using Promo Code NJMEP1 - which typically costs $500/year.

Here are the instructions to setup Connex New Jersey:

• Go to https://www.njmep.org/connex and click on "Join CONNEX NEW JERSEY powered by NJMEP" button
• Click on the "Create an account" link, fill out the simple form, and click on the link in the "Validate Email" message that is sent to you. (approx 1 min)
• Log in with your newly created account and follow the "Register My Organization" wizard. (approx 3 min)
• Don't forget to use the NJMEP1 promotion code near the end of the registration process.

If desired, you can view this video tutorial for a more detailed step-by-step set of instructions: https://youtu.be/-pOr-llX2NQ

If there are any questions, or if you need assistance with registrations, please contact Robert Mazzuca, NJMEP Staff Engineer at rmazzuca@njmep.org.

Three venture capitalist firms will manage $20M fund aimed to invest in early-stage Black & Latino owned businesses

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved three firms to manage the $20 million Black and Latino Seed Fund, the only investment fund across the country aimed to increase capital access for early-stage innovative companies founded by diverse entrepreneurs throughout the State. The capital for the Black and Latino Seed Fund were appropriated through the 2021 and 2022 state budget bills that Governor Phil Murphy signed into law. The NJEDA issued Notices of Investment Opportunities (NIOs) seeking experienced investment managers for the Black and Latino Seed Fund in February.

Conscious Venture Partners LLC, Red Bike Capital LLC, and Tale Venture Partners LLC will each manage portions of the fund and make investments into early-stage, innovative, Black- and Latino-owned businesses throughout New Jersey. The three fund managers will be responsible for raising, or contribute to the raising of, private capital, managing the fund’s day-to-day operations, and developing and maintaining a pipeline of prospective, New Jersey-based small businesses that can benefit from the fund. The venture capital firms, based in Maryland, New York, and California have each committed to open a New Jersey office or Accelerator to align with the fund commitment. Additionally, the firms have committed to regularly engage the market at events and networking opportunities, including the NJEDA’s bi-annual NJ Founders & Funders event.

Conscious Venture Partners, based in Baltimore, Maryland, will manage up to $7.5 million of the fund. The firm has a history of investing in diverse entrepreneurs and disadvantaged urban communities. California-based Tale Venture Partners will also manage up to $7.5 million of the fund. The firm, which was founded by first- and second-generation Jamaican-Americans, has invested in diverse entrepreneurs across their portfolio, which has resulted in nearly 1,700 jobs over the past five years. Tale Venture Partners has committed to relocating their headquarters to New Jersey. Lastly, Red Bike Capital, a Latino- and woman-led early-stage fund, will manage up to $5 million of the Black and Latino Fund. The New York-based firm is committed to improving equity and diversity in the venture capital industry and investing in startups that drive the economy and improve people’s lives. Red Bike Capital has committed to opening an office in New Jersey.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.com and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.