Sponsored by:
Assemblyman P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE CHAPARRO
District 33 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblymen Stanley, Conaway, Moriarty, Karabinchak, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Auth
SYNOPSIS
Promotes small business Internet presence.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers to establish a program to help small businesses develop an Internet presence, supplementing Title 52 of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, in consultation with the Business Action Center established in the Department of State pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 003-2011, shall establish a program to help businesses develop an Internet presence. The program shall be limited to businesses in the State with fewer than 25 employees.
b. The program shall be staffed with full-time employees and volunteers and shall:
(1) provide assistance with launching websites and social media web pages;
(2) assist businesses with setting up technological tools for an Internet presence;
(3) provide continuing assistance with the technological tools until the business has an understanding of how to use those technological tools to enhance the business’s Internet presence;
(4) expand online sales;
(5) implement digital payroll, sales, inventory, and other processes; and
(6) connect with other business owners.
c. The center shall establish the terms and conditions by which a business may participate in the program.
2. The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, in establishing a program to help small businesses develop an Internet presence pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall conduct outreach to institutions of higher education, county colleges, the technology sector, local community centers, libraries, and other similar entities to recruit volunteers to assist the center in administering and promoting the program.
3. This act shall take effect 120 days following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, in consultation with the Business Action Center located within the Department of State, to establish a program to help small businesses in the State develop an Internet presence. The program will be limited to businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
The program established by this bill will be staffed with full-time employees as well as volunteers and help small businesses with:
· launching websites and social media web pages;
· setting up technological tools for an Internet presence;
· providing assistance with technological tools until the business has an understanding of how to use those technological tools to enhance the business’s Internet presence;
· expanding online sales;
· implementing digital payroll, sales, inventory, and other processes; and
· connecting with other business owners.
The bill also requires the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers to conduct outreach to institutions of higher education, county colleges, the technology sector, local community centers, libraries, and other similar entities to recruit volunteers to assist the center in administering and promoting the program.