SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1715

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 10, 2021

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1715.

      This bill provides that no construction permit may be issued for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, or upgrade to any flooring in a school or child care center unless the applicant presents a certification issued by the manufacturer of the flooring materials to be used in the construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, or upgrade of the school or child care center that the materials are free of mercury and compounds containing mercury. 

      A flooring manufacturer that issues a certificate for the purposes of the bill that falsely states that a flooring product is free of mercury and compounds containing mercury will be liable to a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for a second or subsequent offense.

      The bill will take effect 90 days after the date of enactment.