The NJ General Assembly has cancelled a previously scheduled public hearing on the FY 2021 state budget, originally scheduled for tomorrow at 9:30 AM. Anyone wishing to submit written testimony may still do so by sending testimony via email using this address: LBFO@njleg.org, or by mailing a copy to: Assembly Budget Committee, ℅ Legislative Budget and Finance Office, Office of Legislative Services, P.O. Box 068, Trenton, NJ 08625-0068. Upon receipt, your testimony will be circulated to and thoroughly reviewed by committee members and staff and made available to the public via the Legislature’s website.
However, the General Assembly will hold an unprecedented electronic voting session tomorrow at 2:00 PM. Pursuant to a newly signed law, P.L. 2020, c.2, conduct of State business and legislative sessions is allowed at locations other than Trenton during periods of emergency or other exigency, and conduct of legislative business is allowed using electronic means.
The Assembly will consider, by electronic vote, one education-relation piece of legislation tomorrow:
- A-3904 Permits use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement under certain circumstances. This bill was introduced on March 23, 2020 and was moved immediately to 2nd Reading, without Reference. No bill text was available at the time of this writing.
In addition, the Assembly will also consider the following bills:
- A-3900 Concerns family leave and disability benefits during epidemic-related emergencies.
- A-3901 Permits professional and occupational licensing boards to reactivate licensure of certain individuals during state of emergency or public health emergency.
- A-3902 Permits extension of certain deadlines applicable to local government units under emergency circumstances.
- A-3903 Allows remote notarial acts during Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.
- S-2304 Concerns family leave and disability benefits during epidemic-related emergencies.
NJPSA’s Government Relations team continues to communicate directly with our members to best answer your questions and concerns. Please send an email to either dbradley@njpsa.org or jlamon@njpsa.org to contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We encourage you to visit our Coronavirus Crisis Update and Links page for updates and resources. Please also keep in mind there are several helpful, informative threads on the Leadership Connection, which is another excellent forum to share ideas and resources with your colleagues and NJPSA. We encourage you to visit, share your questions and answers, and even commiserate in this member-only online community. If you have any trouble accessing Leadership Connection, please email support@njpsafea.zendesk.com.
We will continue to communicate with you to keep you informed as we remain committed to representing you and your needs to the decision-makers as we get through this pandemic together.