Bill Text: NJ S1238 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-25 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S1238 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1238-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 1238

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Concerns training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Labor Committee on January 25, 2024, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning training of employees about access to public facilities for individuals with service or guide dogs and supplementing P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  ¹a.¹  Any employer who has one or more employees who serve customers or other individuals in a place of public accommodation or other public facility, or who otherwise have the ability to provide or deny access to the place or facility, shall provide training to those employees ¹in accordance with the training requirements set forth in the pamphlet produced by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development pursuant to subsection b. of this section¹ regarding the right of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog in a place of public accommodation or other public facility pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29 et seq.), P.L.1977, c.456 (C.10:5-29.1 et seq.), and the "Americans with Disabilities Act¹["]¹ of 1990,¹"¹ Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.).  An employer may satisfy the training requirements of this section by utilizing training that may be provided at no cost by the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or any other entity, or may, at its discretion, implement a training program at its own cost.  The provisions of this section shall be administered and enforced by the division pursuant to the authority vested in it by the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.).  The division shall set minimum standards for the training and make those standards available upon request.

     ¹b.   The commissioner shall prepare a pamphlet that provides information concerning the rights of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog in a place of public accommodation or other public facility pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.130 (C.10:5-29 et seq.), P.L.1977, c.456 (C.10:5-29.1 et seq.), and the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990," Pub.L.101-336 (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.).  The pamphlet shall contain a concise list of topics that are to be included in the employee training required pursuant to subsection a. of this section.  The pamphlet shall be made available electronically on the Internet website of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. 

     c.     An employer who is required to provide training pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall distribute to each employee a paper copy of the pamphlet. 

     d.    The employee shall sign and return to the employer a form acknowledging that the employee received and reviewed the pamphlet.  The form shall be made available for inspection by the commissioner upon request.  The employer shall retain the form during the period of employment and for a period of three years following any termination of employment.¹

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.