NJBIA scored numerous legislative victories in lame duck voting that closed out the 2008-09 legislative session on January 11. Legislators approved bills that improve the State’s regulatory system and make workforce training more widely available, while defeating legislation that would give unions a monopoly on contracts for public work. Governor Jon Corzine has until January 19 to sign the bills or they are considered vetoed. Here are the details.

Employee Training. For three years, NJBIA has been working with the NJ Community College Consortium and the NJ Department of Labor to give companies access to basic skills training for their employees. The NJBIA Basic Skills Training Program pools employees from a number of different companies. The training covers computers, communications, mathematics and English as a second language. The program has been an overwhelming success, providing training for 11,000 employees at 1,000 businesses. Acting Governor Stephen Sweeney signed S-3113 (Cunningham)/A-4325 (Lampitt), which makes the program permanent. The program allows small businesses to pool employees to meet the 10-employee minimum participation requirements. It provides the training free of charge and reduces burdensome paperwork requirements. For more information on how your business can obtain training, contact Christopher Emigholz.

Mandatory Apprenticeship Programs. Legislators did not approve a mandatory apprenticeship program that would have effectively shut nonunion contractors out of public works contracts. NJBIA had been fighting A-4305 (DeAngelo), which would have required contractors to have approved apprenticeship programs for each trade an employer utilizes, thereby eliminating less costly, quality nonunion competition. The bill was designed to give unions a monopoly on public works contracts and would have greatly increased costs for taxpayers. For more information, contact Art Maurice.

Prevailing Wage. NJBIA has been fighting against four bills that would expand the scope of New Jersey’s prevailing wage laws, which cost taxpayers a great deal of money by requiring government contractors to pay inflated union-scale wages. NJBIA convinced legislators to defeat the worst of these bills, A-4151 (Watson Coleman), which would have extended prevailing wage to all government food service and janitorial services contracts, such as cafeteria services in public schools. The bill would have increased costs to taxpayers by $40 million. Two bills with far lower costs did get through, though. One would extend prevailing wage to projects financed by the Board of Public Utilities (A-4293, DeAngelo, Egan/S-3028 Buono, Baroni), and another to large maintenance-related projects in public buildings (A-4268, Cryan). The Legislature did not consider A-4291 (DeAngelo), which would have extended prevailing wage to housing projects financed through the Home Mortgage Finance Agency. For more information, contact Art Maurice.

Regulatory Flexibility Act. Small businesses that believe they are unfairly burdened by government regulations would be able to take their cases to court under NJBIA-backed legislation, A-832 (Chivukula, Schaer)/S-1793 (Sarlo, Girgenti), which received final approval on January 11. The bill would expand New Jersey’s Regulatory Flexibility Act to allow businesses with fewer than 100 employees to appeal to the courts if they have been economically harmed by the actions of a government agency. The bill would also require government agencies to simplify and consolidate reporting requirements for small businesses. For more information, contact David Brogan.

Permit Extension Act. With numerous construction projects delayed because of the recession, NJBIA has been urging legislators to enact another Permit Extension Act before the legislative session ends. That effort received a boost on January 11 when legislators gave final approval to A-4347 (Greenwald, Malone)/S-3137 (Sarlo), which would extend until December 31, 2012 any permit approval expiring after January 1, 2007. Without the bill, development projects would have to go through the expensive and time-consuming permit process all over again. For more information, contact Art Maurice.

Water Quality Management Plan Extension. NJBIA believes that the State should do everything it can to spur economic development, and that’s why we are working with legislators to prevent excessive regulations at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from halting numerous construction projects. That effort received a boost January 11 when legislators gave final approval to A-4345 (Green, Scalera)/S-2985 (Sarlo, Oroho), which would extend the time period for counties to update their water quality management plans to April 7, 2011. If the extension is not enacted, development in certain areas of the State would grind to a halt. For more information, contact David Brogan.

Recognition for Environmentally Responsible Companies. Legislation that would give recognition to environmentally responsible businesses received final legislative approval on January 11. The bill, A-795 (Gusciora, Fisher), would direct the State’s environmental commissioner to create a list of environmentally responsible businesses. The DEP would award certificates of recognition to companies that have exhibited exemplary attention to the environment. NJBIA supports the bill. For more information, contact David Brogan.

2. Sweeney, Oliver Take over Legislative Leadership Posts

As expected, State senators elected Stephen Sweeney to be Senate president, and Assembly members chose Sheila Oliver to be the new Assembly speaker for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session. Sweeney has represented the 3rd Legislative District (Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties) as Senator since 2002. Previously, he was Senate majority leader. Oliver has represented Essex and Passaic County’s 34th Legislative District since 2004. In the previous session she served as speaker pro tempore. She is the first African-American woman to hold the speaker’s post.

Republicans reelected State Senator Tom Kean as Senate Republican leader and Assemblyman Alex DeCroce as Assembly Republican leader.

3. Surviving the Recession: Expert Advice for Managing Costs in These Tough Economic Times, Feb. 3

At this seminar, held at the Pines Manor in Edison on February 3, learn how to drum up new business, cut your costs, protect your cash flow, reduce your tax liabilities, and make the most of government programs and contracts. Register online now, or for more information, contact Katie Wittkamp at 609-393-7707, ext. 239. To become a sponsor, contact Sherry Esteves at ext. 219.