SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2919

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 11, 2021

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably, with committee amendments, Senate Bill No. 2919.

      This bill establishes the “Remote Work Study Commission.”  The commission will consist of 11 members, which include: the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development; two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; two members of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; three public members appointed by the President of the Senate, which will include a representative from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, an expert in issues of remote work, a representative of the New Jersey Commerce and Industry Association, and three public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which will include a representative from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, an expert in issues of remote work, and a person who performs professional, desk, managerial, or administrative work.

      It will be the duty of the commission to evaluate:

      1.   whether the advantages of remote work exceed its disadvantages;

      2.   whether remote work has positive effects on the productivity of workers; and

      3.   the effect that the coronavirus 2019 pandemic has had on remote work.

      The commission shall issue a final report of its findings and conclusions to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year following the first meeting of the commission.  The commission and this act will expire upon the submission of the commission’s report.

      The amendments adopted by the committee require the President of the Senate to appoint a representative from the
New Jersey Commerce and Industry Association as a member of the commission.