This bill (A5358) revises New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program to require **all employers with at least one employee** in New Jersey to offer automatic payroll deductions for retirement savings, replacing the current threshold of 25+ employees. It directly affects private-sector employers (excluding state government) by mandating they set up payroll arrangements allowing employees to contribute to the program, with automatic enrollment at 3% of wages unless employees opt out. Key provisions include allowing employees to choose contribution levels (up to IRA limits) and investment options, with employers retaining the ability to offer alternative retirement plans. The bill removes the prior "small employer" category to reflect this expanded requirement.
This bill (A2415) requires New Jersey's Silver Alert System to use the same broadcast alert procedures as the Amber Alert System. It directly affects media outlets participating in the Silver Alert program, which helps locate missing elderly individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments. The key provision mandates that participating media must broadcast a distinctive sound tone followed by "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert" during alerts, with the alert repeated as often as possible for the first three hours. After three hours, broadcasts continue at intervals determined by law enforcement and media, while including a description of the missing person and contact information for the public.
This bill requires that when contracts for operating official motor vehicle inspection facilities are renewed or new contracts are awarded, employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be offered employment first to meet staffing needs. It mandates that job offers to these employees must include compensation and benefits matching the terms of the existing CBA. Additionally, the bill ensures that any collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time remains binding on successors - such as companies acquiring assets or merging - during sales, transfers, or mergers of inspection facility operations.
This bill allows New Jersey state agencies, counties, and municipalities to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings plans called deferred compensation plans. For state employees hired after the bill's effective date, enrollment is mandatory unless they opt out or choose a different contribution percentage. Local governments (counties and municipalities) may choose whether to implement automatic enrollment. Employers must provide clear notice and a reasonable opportunity for employees to adjust or decline participation, and must set a default investment option for those who do not select one.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative to connect students, workers, and job seekers with training in high-demand fields like healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. The New Jersey Community College Consortium will operate the initiative, creating Centers of Workforce Innovation that develop publicly available training programs and skills for specific careers. These centers must promote financial aid access, expand apprenticeships, and partner with employers, schools, and colleges to build a skilled workforce. The program aims to directly support job seekers entering growing industries while helping employers meet labor needs.
This bill requires pool and spa service businesses in New Jersey to obtain a permit from the Pool and Spa Service Contractors Advisory Committee before operating. To qualify, a business must employ at least one licensed pool and spa builder/installer or service contractor, pay application fees, and meet additional board requirements. Permitted businesses can then serve as general contractors for all pool and spa construction, installation, and service work, though specialized tasks (like electrical or plumbing) must still be performed by licensed professionals. Subcontractors working under these permitted businesses are not required to obtain separate licenses but must operate under their supervision.
The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act (A4973) gives resident homeowners in manufactured home parks the right to purchase the land their homes sit on if the landowner plans to sell. The bill requires landowners to notify resident homeowners, the Department of Community Affairs, and relevant municipal officials when selling land or considering a bona fide offer, with notice required to include price and terms. Resident homeowners can form a group with 51% consent to negotiate and purchase the land within 120 days, with a reasonable financing contingency of at least 90 days. The bill also allows resident homeowners to assign their purchase rights to a municipality, housing authority, or nonprofit organization to preserve the community as affordable housing.
This bill creates group disability insurance for disabled members of New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). It provides monthly income benefits equal to 60% of a member's base salary (minimum $50) while they are totally disabled, payable until age 70 if disability began before age 60. Members must have completed one year of continuous service to qualify, and coverage excludes pregnancy, war injuries, self-harm, imprisonment, or time outside the U.S. Canada. The State Treasurer purchases the insurance through a special fund, with premiums paid from employer contributions.
S 3366 eliminates a $15 fee for special license plates designated for firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads in New Jersey. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1977, c.369) to remove the additional charge, meaning eligible members will no longer pay extra for these plates beyond standard vehicle registration fees. It directly affects compensated, partially compensated, or volunteer firefighters and first aid/rescue squad members who apply for these plates. The change applies immediately upon enactment, requiring no additional cost for the special plate design.
S 3607 extends accidental death benefits to survivors of State Police Retirement System (SPRS) retirees who died from health conditions linked to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations, regardless of when the retiree died. It expands eligibility beyond retirees who previously received only accidental disability retirement to include those with ordinary disability, special, or service retirement benefits. The bill removes the requirement for a written sworn statement in applications and allows survivors to submit claims within two years of the retiree's death or two years after the bill's effective date, whichever is later. It also mandates that the State notify eligible survivors by certified mail within 60 days of the bill's effective date.
Bill S 3906 revises New Jersey's Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act to add clear enforcement tools and penalty provisions. It allows the Board of Tree Experts or the Department of Environmental Protection to issue compliance orders, pursue civil actions for damages, and impose fines of $1,000 for a first violation or $2,500 for repeat violations (with each day of violation counting as a separate offense). Before levying fines, agencies must provide written notice detailing the violation and penalty, and give violators 20 days to request a hearing. This directly affects licensed tree care professionals by increasing accountability for non-compliance while giving enforcement agencies stronger authority to address violations.
This bill (A4374) makes two specific violations of New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act criminal offenses. It targets employers who knowingly falsify payroll records for public construction projects or submit false information on contractor registration forms. Currently, these violations result in fines up to $25,000 and disqualification from public work; the bill upgrades them to a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to $10,000 in fines, 18 months in jail, or both. The law applies directly to employers working on state or local public construction projects requiring prevailing wage compliance.
