I. State

a. Tropical Storm Ida Update

Major Disaster Declaration

On Sunday, President Joe Biden released a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Jersey and Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset Counties. Today the President expand the declaration to include Essex, Hudson, Mercer and Union Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Please use the state portal to report damage and keep documentation, photos, and receipts. This should expedite reimbursement. Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide, including counties that do not meet the major disaster declaration threshold.

FEMA has created a webpage that includes New Jersey resources and assistance for families. If you wish to assist with the recovery efforts, visit FEMA’s Volunteer/Donate page. 
 
People in need of emergency assistance from the Red Cross can call: 800-RED-CROSS or 800-507-6058. For people who have been displaced, please use the Red Cross website to find a shelter near you.
 
NJ Disaster Cleanup Business and Non-Profit Grant Program

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board approved program that will provide grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to New Jersey businesses and non-profits with up to 50 employees that suffered physical damage as a result of Tropical Storm Ida and any additional flooding immediately thereafter. Landlords and home-based businesses are not eligible.
 
Rideshare Partnership
 
Governor Phil Murphy announced a partnership with NJ 211, United Way Worldwide, Uber, and Lyft to provide access to free and discounted rides to New Jersey residents who lost a personal vehicle as a result of Tropical Storm Ida.
 
For the next two weeks, New Jersey residents who lost a vehicle and need help accessing essential services can text NJIDARIDE to 898-211 to request a Lyft or Uber ride. Those without access to a smartphone can dial 211 from any phone line.

SNAP Recipients Benefit Replacement

Following FEMA’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration, NJ Human Services sought and received additional federal approval to provide residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Bergen, Gloucester,  Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset counties access to special disaster food assistance benefits beginning today through September 30, 2021.
 
NJ SNAP recipients can use their EBT benefits cards to purchase hot food at participating NJ SNAP retailers until September 30, 2021. The hot food waiver only applies to items purchased from SNAP-approved retailers located in the designated six counties.
 
Resources
 
As a reminder, please visit the League’s Tropical Storm Ida webpage for resources, as well as the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Flood Resources page and the League’s Emergency & Public Health Resource page that includes contact information for power outages, and resources regarding tornado preparedness, weather reports, and many other related topics. The New Jersey Department of Health Office of Disaster Resilience’s Hurricane Preparedness webpage also contains useful resources.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 110.

b. Briefing with DLGS Director Suarez on Post-Ida Planning

Mayors, please join us on Friday, September 17, at 12:30 p.m. for a virtual briefing with Division of Local Government Services Director Jacquelyn Suarez on post Ida planning and using American Rescue Plan funds for infrastructure. Register for this free briefing today. If you are unable to attend, you may designate someone from your municipality to register in your place. A link to the briefing will be sent to registrants the morning of the briefing.

Contact: Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 112.

c. New Electric Vehicle Ordinance Becomes Effective in All Municipalities

As required by P.L. 2021, c.171, the Department of Community Affairs has published “An Ordinance Authorizing and Encouraging Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) & Make-Ready Parking Spaces.” The “model ordinance” as the law terms it, became effective in each municipality upon its publication on the DCA website on September 1, 2021.

For more information on this law and the adopted ordinance, please see the League’s recent blog post. 

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, FMarshall@njlm.org or 609-695-3481, ext. 137.

II. Federal

a. Federal Budget & Reconciliation Update

Federal Budget Update

The coming weeks are going to very busy in Washington D.C. as Congress considers spending priorities, government funding deadlines, and authorization to raise the debt ceiling. Further, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised to post the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed the Senate in August. This is a fluid situation and much is likely to evolve. We will continue to monitor and report accordingly.

Appropriations

The federal fiscal year ends on September 30. Congress is expected to pass a short-term continuing resolution while considering the 13 appropriations bills that fund all aspects of the government including Agriculture; Commerce/Justice/State; Defense; District of Columbia; Energy and Water; Foreign Operations; Interior; Labor/Health and Human Services/Education; Legislative Branch; Military Construction; Transportation; Treasury/Postal Service; and Veterans’ Affairs/Housing and Urban Development. President Joe Biden has asked that more than $20 billion in supplemental spending be included in the continuing resolution for disaster relief and Afghan resettlement. While not finalized, it appears the continuing resolution would carry through the end of the calendar year.  

Budget Reconciliation Process Proceeding

Over the summer, both the Senate and House voted to begin the budget reconciliation process and tasked committees to hammer out specific items germane to their jurisdiction. This week, several House Committees began meeting to consider their specific portions of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation including the House Ways and Means Committee; the House Science, Space and Technology Committee; the House Small Business Committee; the House Agriculture Committee; and the House Natural Resources Committee. Next week, the House Veterans Affairs Committee will begin meeting as well.

Debt Limit

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sent a letter to congressional leaders this week urging them to act swiftly and vote to raise the debt ceiling. U.S. Treasury estimates that the debt capacity will reach its limit by mid-October. There is currently a partisan stand-off as the deadline approaches in the next few weeks.

As stated earlier, there is much happening and we will continue to monitor and keep you appraised.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 110.

b. President Biden Announces Path Out of the Pandemic Plan

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a Path Out of the Pandemic that includes six major programs–Vaccinate the Unvaccinated; Further Protecting the Vaccinated; Keeping Schools Safely Open; Increasing Testing & Requiring Masking; Protecting Our Economic Recovery; and Improving Care to those with COVID-19.
Included in the plan is a requirement that all employers with more than 100 employees ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement.

In addition, OSHA is developing a rule that will require employers with more than 100 employees to provide paid time off for the time it takes for workers to get vaccinated or to recover if they are under the weather post-vaccination.

It is our understanding that this rule will apply to local governments that meet this threshold.

Lastly, the plan calls on entertainment venues like sports arenas, large concert halls, and other venues where large groups of people gather to require that their patrons be vaccinated or show a negative test for entry. If you have a venue that fits this criteria, it is unclear what enforcement mechanism exists to comply with this request.

We encourage you to review this information with your municipal professionals and develop a plan to ensure compliance and tracking if your municipality meets this minimum employee threshold.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 110.

III. COVID-19 Weekly Update

 
As the school year begins, Governor Murphy reminded all students, school personnel, and visitors that they are required to wear a face mask when in a school building. Governor Murphy also noted that the state is awaiting guidance from the federal government on the administering of a booster shot. Department of Health Commissioner, Judith Persichilli noted that they are planning for almost any scenario so the state will be ready to administer boosters.

COVID Data for September 10, 2021:

• 2,173 new positive cases for a total of 969,062 confirmed cases
• 15 new confirmed deaths for a total of 24,290 confirmed deaths
• The rate of transmission is at 1.01
• 11,293,164 vaccine doses have been administered, including 6,225,718 who have received at least one dose and 5,498,719 who are fully vaccinated. 57% are Pfizer, 39% Moderna, and 4% J&J.

Vaccine Information
 
As a reminder, the Department of Health is providing access to individuals COVID vaccination records through NJ Docket, a secure and free smartphone app Docket, which is CDC approved.
 
Homebound residents who have not yet connected with their local health department, or a home health agency, and who need an in-home vaccination should visit www.covid19.nj.gov/homeboundvax or contact the call center at 855-568-0545.

IV.  2021 Governor's Conference on Housing and Economic Development

The 2021 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development virtual conference will be held on September 29-30, 2021. The agenda includes sessions addressing lessons learned from the pandemic, what has changed, and efforts the state has taken to stabilize and adapt to address the needs of impacted homeowners, renters, businesses and communities. Registration fee is $85. More information on the Governor’s Conference is available on their conference’s website or by contacting njhousingconference@njhmfa.gov.