Bill Text: NJ ACR102 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Governor to safely reopen non-essential businesses within State during COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee [ACR102 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-ACR102-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 102
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Ocean)
Assemblyman JOHN CATALANO
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Governor to safely reopen non-essential businesses within State during COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
Whereas, The proliferation of COVID-19 has necessitated certain emergency measures to curtail its spread, which include keeping a distance of at least six feet between other persons and maintaining sanitary health practices, such as frequent hand washing; and
Whereas, As part of these emergency measures, the Governor signed two Executive Orders, Nos. 107 and 119 of 2020, which direct all residents to stay at home until further notice and close all non-essential businesses and construction sites; and
Whereas, These orders severely damage the economic well-being of thousands of businesses within the State, with 53 percent of businesses having either reduced employee hours or having laid off workers; and
Whereas, Nearly a third of the businesses that are affected by these orders are unsure whether they will reopen once the orders are lifted; and
Whereas, It would take affected businesses at least a year to generate revenues comparable to their pre-COVID-19 profits if they had to operate at 50 percent capacity; and
Whereas, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have released guidelines to help reduce exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace; and
Whereas, 70 percent of affected businesses believe they can fully operate under CDC guidelines; and
Whereas, COVID-19 related cases and hospitalizations in this State have been decreasing, with a more than 40 percent drop in hospitalizations and cases since their peak in mid-April; and
Whereas, Responsibly reopening the State in a manner that is attuned to the needs of its business community would be beneficial to every citizen of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. This Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the Governor to safely reopen non-essential businesses within the State during the coronavirus disease 2019 health crisis.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
The United States of America and this State are confronting the viral disease known as COVID-19, which has necessitated certain emergency measures to slow its spread. These include keeping a distance of at least six feet between other persons and maintaining sanitary health practices, such as frequent hand washing.
As part of these emergency measures, the Governor has signed two Executive Orders, Nos. 107 and 119 of 2020, which direct all residents to stay at home until further notice and close all non-essential businesses and construction sites. These orders, which were signed with the hope of reducing the spread of COVID-19, impact thousands of businesses within the State, with 53 percent of businesses having either reduced employee hours or having laid off workers as a result. The length of these orders has also placed the viability of many businesses in doubt, with nearly a third of affected businesses being unsure of whether they will reopen once the orders are lifted.
Under the new workplace guidelines released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, businesses now have guidance on how to safely reopen while reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19. With most affected businesses believing they can fully operate safely under the CDC guidelines, and new data showing cases and hospitalizations of the disease decreasing, now is the time for the Governor to safely reopen the State. The sooner this process begins, the faster the State can recover from this difficult situation.
