M E M O R A N D U M

TO:                      Members of the New Jersey General Assembly 

FROM:               Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs CCSNJ

RE:                      Support of A-4222 (Freiman/Egan)

DATE:                 June 16, 2022

The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey is pleased to support A-4222 (Freiman/Egan), which will expand the working hours for minors and update the process for obtaining working papers.

The CCSNJ is happy to support innovative ways to ensure a full workforce for the busy summer tourism season. Seasonal shore businesses depend on a successful summer season to thrive and due to conditions created by the pandemic, shore businesses have found it difficult to find employees. Many shore businesses the past two seasons were forced to operate on reduced hours as they were unable to hire enough employees to be fully staffed. Businesses were often unable to hire an eager and available teen workforce due to outdated restrictions and procedures for minors to participate in the labor force.

This bill takes the steps necessary to update the current laws governing minors in the workforce. A-4222 (Freiman/Egan) will make permanent the language that had been adopted temporarily last summer allowing 16- and 17-year-old youths can work up to 50 hours a week when school is not in session. The bill also modernizes the antiquated working paper process. Rather than the school districts issuing working papers for minors, the bill establishes a centralized database within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for minors and employers to register.

This bill is particularly timely as we enter the 2022 summer season. With gas prices rising and expensive airfare, summer at the shore is expected to be a popular destination for many families to vacation this year. This bill will allow the shore businesses to be fully staffed and offer patrons the full experience of the Jersey shore.

The CCSNJ thanks you for the opportunity to share our support of A-4222 (Freiman/Egan) and urge you to vote yes.