I. State Issues
a. COVID-19 Weekly Update
This week the Governor noted that Thursday marked one year since the closure of schools and the transition to all-remote learning. During his remarks the Governor stated that, “Come September, it is our complete expectation that every school will be open, and every student and educator will be safely in their classrooms for full time, in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 academic year.”
As a reminder, today the limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings as well as indoor capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, health clubs, recreation facilities, and personal care businesses have increased.
COVID Data
For March 19, 2021:
- 3,738 new positive cases for a total of 758,470 confirmed cases
- 27 new confirmed deaths for a total of 21,588 confirmed deaths
- The rate of transmission is at 1.06
- 890 cases linked to 188 school outbreaks since August
- 3,303,734 vaccine doses have been administered, including 2,201,788 first doses and 1,100,974 second doses. 50% have been Moderna, 48% Pfizer, and 2% J&J.
Vaccine Information
The Governor noted that on Monday the state has crossed the threshold of 3 million vaccinations with 1.1 million people who are now fully vaccinated, either because they receive their second dose of these vaccines, or because they have received their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The state is roughly at 45% of the initial goal to have 70% of New Jersey adult population vaccinated.
It was also announced that CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are each reserving appointments for and prioritizing educators and childcare workers. The State has also set aside a minimum of 10,000 doses each week for seniors aged 65 and older with Walmart. The State’s call center has been reaching out to seniors on the waiting list to help them make an appointment.
The State hotline 855-568-0545 continues to assist residents, with live agents from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in getting information on how to register, as well as how to schedule vaccine appointments as people become eligible. The agents remind residents that there is no out of pocket expense to get vaccinated and that the two vaccines are not interchangeable.
The State continues to encourage the general public to pre-register for eligibility for the vaccine online. Individuals will be permitted to input their personal, contact, health insurance, and demographic information. Those who are immediately eligible based on screening questions will be able to schedule an appointment.
Executive Orders
Executive Order 231: Extending the public health emergency by an additional 30 days.
Executive Order 232: Permitting outdoor interstate youth sports competitions as well as allowing school-based club and recreational programs to host outdoor interstate youth sports competitions outside of New Jersey. Attendees at outdoor sports competitions will be limited to players, coaches, and officials and up to two parents or guardians per participating athlete. No additional spectators or attendees will be allowed.
Unemployment Information
The Department of Labor announced for the week ending March 13 the initial weekly unemployment claims increased by 402 to 10,242 for the week. As part of the American Rescue Plan unemployment federal benefits have been extended through September 4 and the $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit will continue.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
b. Legislation Advancing Creating a Local Part of PERS
Senate President Sweeney has introduced legislation (S-3522) that would divide the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) into two parts. A State Part for State employees and a Local Part for all other employees. The Senate President has indicated that he is advancing this legislation as a mean of protecting the local part of the PERS from being co-mingled with the State.
The legislation creates a seven-member board comprised of three management representatives, three labor representatives, and one member determined by the board. The board would operate the retirement system and direct policies and investments to achieve and maintain the full funding. This legislation is similar to the legislation that separated the Police and Fire Retirement System except for the control of investments and that management has an equal representation on the board. The board representation and other changes were made at our request to an earlier draft of the bill.
The Local Part PERS Board would be given the authority to formulate and establish, amend, modify, or repeal, such policies as it may deem necessary and proper to govern the methods, practices, or procedures for investment, reinvestment, purchase, sale, or exchange transactions to be followed by the Division of Investments.
We have been working with Senate President’s office along with New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC), New Jersey Municipal Managers Association (NJMMA), and Government Finance Officers Association of New Jersey (GFOA) on this legislation. Senate President Sweeney incorporated many of our suggestions in the proposed legislation. The Legislation has been introduced and is before the Senate State Government Committee on Monday.
Please consider adopting the sample resolution expressing support and reach out to your Senator and Assembly representatives urging them to support this legislation to preserve the structure and integrity of the more solvent local part of the PERS.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
c. Cannabis Briefing Available
On Thursday, March 18 we held a second free briefing on the new Cannabis law. The briefing is now available for you to view. For more information and resources on the new cannabis legislation please visit the League’s cannabis resource page.
Contacts:
d. Legislature Introduces Bills to Appropriate CARES Act Money to Economic Development Authority
New Jersey Legislators have proposed four bills that appropriate moneys in the current fiscal year from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to the NJ Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture, microbusinesses, restaurants, and food shelters throughout the public health crisis.
Read more about it in the League’s recent blog post.
Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609 695-3481, x110.
e. NJ Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Regarding OPMA Challenge
The New Jersey Supreme Court denied certification in Schwartz v. Princeton Board of Education this week a case in which the League participated in as amicus in partnership with the NJ School Boards Association. This case involved a challenge to the use of an electronic voting system at a public body’s meeting and whether such use violated the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). In denying certification, the Court upholds the favorable decision from the Appellate Division which found no violation of OPMA. For more details on this case please see the League’s recent blog post.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
f. Legislation Seeks to Create Special Needs Registry for Emergencies
On March 17, the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee took testimony on A-1173 but did not release the bill. The League supports this legislation as it would require the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services in the Office of Information Technology to establish a central registry of residents with special needs who require additional assistance during emergencies. The Registry would be voluntary for special needs residents.
The registry would not be disclosable under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), and would provide local emergency response agencies with access to the information in order to attain a list of residents with special needs that have registered with the central registry and that reside in the agency’s jurisdiction. Those agencies could then use the information collected for the central registry to assist residents with special needs when responding to 9-1-1 calls and other emergencies.
Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
g. Committee Approves Bill Exempting Certain Housing from Zoning
Legislation (A-3326) which would allow hospitals to construct, rehabilitate or remediate housing, in order to provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless or housing insecure was recently approved by an Assembly Committee. While efforts to house and provide health care to the homeless are laudable, A-3326 would also provide an unnecessarily broad exemption to local zoning and land use regulations – which could all development of housing in unsuitable location, putting the health and safety of our communities at risk. Because of this the League opposes this bill, as currently drafted.
The League has, however, been in contact with the bill’s sponsors to express these concerns and offer alternative solutions. We are hopeful that these concerns will be considered and amendments can be made to ensure the health and safety of our communities. For more information please see the League’s recent blog post.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.
h. Recap of Legislative Actions: Week of March 14
During the week, various Assembly and Senate committees held hearings and considered numerous pieces of legislation this week. Please see our recent blog post proving a recap of the municipal issues considered by the legislature this week.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.
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