SR135

A Senate Resolution urging the Governor to safely reopen State offices closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas, Rising COVID-19 infections prompted Governor Murphy to declare a Statewide stay-at-home-order on March 21, 2020 through Executive Order No. 107, which required all employers to either reduce staff on site to the minimum number necessary or utilize work-from-home arrangements if feasible; and

Whereas, According to statistics compiled by the State of New Jersey, the COVID-19 infection rate has dramatically decreased from 3,000 people per day to less than 700 per day and the number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 has decreased from 2,300 to under 700 as of May 26, 2021; and

Whereas, In the State of New Jersey alone, over 4 million residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and an additional 4.7 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine as of May 26, 2021; and

Whereas, In response to the diminished threat of COVID-19, the staff reduction and work-from-home requirements ordered by Executive Order No. 107 were rescinded by Executive Order No. 243 on May 26, 2021, yet a majority of State departments and agencies continue to limit the number of staff working on-site and continue to utilize work-from-home arrangements for both essential and non-essential employees; and

Whereas, Many State departments and agencies provide invaluable services to the residents of the State of New Jersey, many of which are particularly important during a time of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and the quality of these services has decreased due to the restriction on employees working on-site; and

Whereas, The online unemployment filing system managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is not equipped to handle the substantial number of unemployment claims filed during the COVID-19 pandemic and many individuals have encountered issues during the unemployment filing process that are still unresolved due to the restriction on in-person customer assistance; and

Whereas, The One-Stop Career Centers throughout the State managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development which provide employment assistance to many unemployed individuals remain closed and the failure to reopen these centers may result in further economic harm to the unemployed individual and in a larger scale, the State of New Jersey; and

Whereas, Due to vaccination efforts that have led to a low infection and hospitalization rate in the State of New Jersey and the issues which have risen due to the closure of State offices, this House respectfully urges the Governor to safely reopen State agencies and departments, particularly those administering invaluable services the provision of which benefit from in-person customer assistance to New Jersey residents; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully urges the Governor to safely reopen State departments and agencies in light of the significant progress the State of New Jersey has achieved in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the Governor to safely reopen all State offices shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of New Jersey has made significant progress in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. A high vaccination rate and stringent requirements for face coverings and social distancing have led to a dramatic decrease in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. In light of this success, Executive Order No. 243 overrides the minimum staff requirements and work-from-home recommendations that have been in place for over a year due to Executive Order No. 107. While many businesses and establishments have reopened and returned to full capacity, the majority of State offices remain either closed or only partially staffed.

State agencies and departments manage very important and invaluable services offered to the residents of the State of New Jersey. As an example, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development manages the online unemployment filing system that was not equipped to handle the surge of unemployment applications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further exacerbating the problem, many issues encountered by applicants, sometimes originating over a year ago, have not yet been resolved due to the closure of in-person services. The One-Stop Career Centers also managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development provide employment services to unemployed individuals, yet also remain closed. It is important that New Jersey residents are successful in accessing these services, as it may prevent further economic harm to both the individual and the State of New Jersey as a whole.