COVID-19 Bills Signed Into Law As NJ Hits Highest Case Total Ever

Recovery act

The New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 includes new initiatives such as the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, which will provide a direct $50 million appropriation for grants, loans, loan guarantees and technical assistance to small and micro-businesses.

The legislation also includes a “Food Desert Relief” program designed to ensure that all communities have access to fresh, healthy food, lawmakers say.

Incentives would offset the cost of development of a fresh-food grocery store in an area designated as a food desert, while also strengthening existing community assets like bodegas, corner stores, and mid-sized retailers by equipping them with the equipment and infrastructure to provide healthier food options, lawmakers said.

This bill will also bolster the state’s startup and entrepreneur economy by starting an “Innovation Evergreen Fund,” a program that will combine state funds with private capital to support innovative new businesses, lawmakers say.

The new legislation also includes several programs designed to promote growth in New Jersey’s urban centers, including:

• The Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive, designed to facilitate the redevelopment of environmentally contaminated properties;
• The Historic Property Tax Credit, which will incentivize the restoration of historic buildings, many of which are located in New Jersey’s oldest and most distressed neighborhoods;
• The Community-Anchored Development Program, which will incentivize the construction of innovative new developments by partnering with universities, hospitals, arts, and cultural organizations and give the state an equity stake in the development.

“I am immensely proud of the result, which will not only provide much-needed relief for our small businesses but will also fundamentally change economic development in our state while creating thousands of high-paying jobs for our residents,” Murphy said.

Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, said these renewed incentives “are specifically directed toward reviving our local economies and helping main streets thrive throughout this crisis and beyond.”

“This incentives package will not only help strengthen our economy, but it will help address some of the longstanding inequities faced by the most distressed communities in our state,” she said.

The legislation reforms the state’s two main tax incentive programs, placing caps on the number of incentives awarded each year, as well as over the life of the programs.

The New Jersey Emerge program is a job creation tax credit focused on bringing new middle-class and well-paying jobs to our communities, with base and bonus structure for targeted industries and geographies, Murphy said.

The New Jersey Aspire program also is a gap financing program to support commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and residential real estate development projects, with an emphasis on higher need communities.

This legislation also revamps several existing programs, including the Film and Television Tax Credit, which was expanded and enhanced to attract large studio construction to New Jersey, and the Offshore Wind Manufacturing credit, which now encompasses the entire state and will allow more businesses to qualify.

Helping renters

Murphy signed a bill into law sponsored that allows tenants to pay rent with a credit card in order to delay the financial impact of the payment.

The law, formerly bill A-4182 and sponsored by Assembly Democrats Thomas Giblin, Benjie Wimberly and Clinton Calabrese, will require landlords to allow both commercial and residential tenants to pay their rent with a credit card during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

“To say that these are not normal times in which we are living would be an understatement,” said Giblin, D-Essex, Passaic. “The usual way of doing things cannot stay the same in the midst of social and economic turmoil. Rent payments are no exception.

“If we are to avoid mass evictions, landlords must make reasonable accommodations to help the many New Jersey residents and business owners facing financial difficulties as a result of this pandemic.”

Many landlords do not currently permit tenants to pay with a credit card because of transaction fees and a tenant’s ability to claim the charge was fraudulent, lawmakers said.

To address the issues with this payment method, the law stipulates that associated transaction fees would be the tenant’s responsibility and any payment disputed as fraudulent and charged back to the landlord would be considered non-payment of rent.

“Many residents are struggling to pay their bills right now because of the significant financial toll this pandemic has taken on our state,” said Wimberly, D-Bergen, Passaic.

“Unfortunately, both landlords and renters are experiencing economic hardship, which means we need to seek ways to help everyone get through this. The intent of this bill is to help landlords get paid on time while giving renters a chance to pay off the charge at a later date when they are more financially stable.”

Police and firefighter benefits

Murphy signed legislation that expands the accidental death pension in the police and firefighters’ retirement system for surviving spouses so that they receive a minimum of $50,000 per year.

Murphy signed S487, also known as the “Dominick Marino PFRS Enhanced Benefits for Surviving Spouses Act.” The legislation is named after Dominick Marino, a former professional firefighter and past president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jerse who passed away earlier last year.

The new law will provide financial security for a member’s surviving spouse by ensuring that the accidental death benefit provided by the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System cannot be below $50,000 annually, Murphy said.

“A fierce advocate who put his heart and soul into everything he did for his PFANJ brothers and sisters, Dominick was a dear friend to me and to so many of us,” said Murphy. “It is my great honor to sign this bill to cement Dominick’s legacy and help ensure that our first responders’ loved ones who are left behind are taken care of.”

Previously, surviving spouses received 70 percent of the compensation of their spouse’s last year of creditable service.

The Assembly vote tally was 74-0, and the Senate tally was 38-0.

The bill’s sponsors were Assembly Democrats Angelica Jimenez, D-Bergen, Hudson; Pedro Mejia, D-Bergen, Hudson; and Carol Murphy, D-Burlington. They earlier released the following joint statement:

“Too many of our first responders, unfortunately, give their lives to keep their communities safe. We will never be able to fully give back to those brave heroes, but the very least we can do is make sure their families are cared for. Expanding the accidental death pension will benefit many families of fallen police officers and firefighters. It’s another way we can continue to express our utmost respect and gratitude for their loved one’s service.”

Traffic stops

Under a bill, A3871, signed by Murphy, the Motor Vehicle Commission must produce a video on drivers’ rights and responsibilities during police traffic stops and incorporate it into their education and testing process.

“As a mom and an advocate for education, I was excited to embrace this bill because it offers an important learning opportunity for new drivers. Understanding your rights when stopped for a traffic violation is just as important as reading and interpreting road signs,” said Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, a prime sponsor of the bill.

“It equips drivers with the knowledge to act responsibly and ultimately encourages more positive police encounters. It also creates a safer environment for law enforcement.”

Drivers are granted certain rights under state and federal law, including the right to be free from unreasonable or illegal searches by law enforcement, and the right to remain silent and not answer questions by the police, lawmakers said.

“We want to establish a foundation for safer, less stressful police interactions and in order to do that, we must educate people on what actions are permissible under the law,” said Dunn, R-Morris.

“Educating new drivers is an issue that should be championed by both sides of the aisle and I am glad I will get to see this law implemented.”The law will take effect in seven months. After this time, soon-to-be drivers will be required to watch the video before taking the written examination for a validated permit.

Murphy also signed these bills into law:

• S-559/A-3277 (Codey, Cryan/Vainieri Huttle, Quijano, Dunn) – Requires parent or guardian to notify child care centers if child will be absent; requires child care centers to notify parent or guardian in event of unexcused child absence
• S-1028/A-3601 (Ruiz, Turner, Singleton/Quijano, McKnight, Timberlake) – Allocates Amistad Commission in but not of DOE; requires commission to elect chairperson and appoint executive director; requires public schools to include instruction on accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to American society
• S-1245/A-2768 (Gopal, Cruz-Perez/Houghtaling, Murphy, Dancer) – Establishes housing of equine-related farm employees in facilities with horses under certain conditions as “Right to Farm” permissible activity; requires State Agriculture Development Committee adoption of agricultural management practice that permits such housing
• S-1936/A-2450 (Sweeney, T. Kean/Benson, Murphy, Vainieri Huttle) – Requires DOT Commissioner to advertise availability of certain transportation programs and services

Here are the daily case and fatality numbers since the coronavirus crisis began:

• January 10: 5,032
• January 9: 6,435
• January 8: 5,791
• January 7: 6,314
• January 6: 5,028
• January 5: 5,400
• January 4: 2,292
• January 3: 3,676
• January 2: 5,528
• January 1: 5,541
• December 31: 5,107
• December 30: 4,664
• December 29: 3,675
• December 28: 2,745
• December 27: 2,329
• December 26: 4,000
• December 25: 5,095
• December 24: 4,871
• December 23: 4,919
• December 22: 4,686
• December 21: 3,186
• December 20: 5,184
• December 19: 4,240
• December 18: 3,975
• December 17: 4,319
• December 16: 5,803
• December 15: 4,111
• December 14: 4,805
• December 13: 4,170
• December 12: 6,247
• December 11: 3,821
• December 10: 5,370
• December 9: 4.665
• December 8: 5,820
• December 7: 3,573
• December 6: 6,046
• December 5: 5,367
• December 4: 5,673
• December 3: 4,913
• December 2: 4,350
• December 1: 4,661
• November 30: 3,199
• November 29: 3,851
• November 28: 3,924
• November 27: 4,100
• November 26: 4,565
• November 25: 4,073
• November 24: 4,383
• November 23: 3,592
• November 22: 3,998
• November 21: 4,679
• November 20: 3,635
• November 19: 4,320
• November 18: 4,063
• November 17: 4,060
• November 16: 2,232
• November 15: 4,540
• November 14: 4,395
• November 13: 3,399
• November 12: 3,517
• November 11: 3,078
• November 10: 3,877
• November 9: 2,075
• November 8: 2,043
• November 7: 3,207
• November 6: 2,199
• November 5: 2,104
• November 4: 2,472
• November 3: 1,832
• November 2: 1,379
• November 1: 1,751
• October 31: 1,370
• October 30: 2,089
• October 29: 1,477
• October 28: 1,682
• October 27: 1,663
• October 26: 1,223
• October 25: 1,140
• October 24: 1,994
• October 23: 1,139
• October 22: 1,182
• October 21: 1,062
• October 20: 1,036
• October 19: 1,192
• October 18: 1,282
• October 17: 958
• October 16: 823
• October 15: 973
• October 14: 953
• October 13: 993
• October 12: 478
• October 11: 751
• October 10: 901
• October 9: 881
• October 8: 1,301
• October 7: 514
• October 6: 651
• October 5: 522
• October 4: 637
• October 3: 957
• October 2: 796
• October 1: 663
• September 30: 722
• September 29: 505
• September 28: 561
• September 27: 712
• September 26: 760
• September 25: 612
• September 24: 588
• September 23: 430
• September 22: 457
• September 21: 396
• September 20: 457
• September 19: 489
• September 18: 519
• September 17: 617
• September 16: 447
• September 15: 498
• September 14: 346
• September 13: 306
• September 12: 487
• September 11: 518
• September 10: 507
• September 9: 356
• September 8: 284
• September 7: 344
• September 6: 360
• September 5: 370
• September 4: 478
• September 3: 455
• September 2: 329
• September 1: 365
• August 31: 352
• August 30: 306
• August 29: 388
• August 28: 372
• August 27: 374
• August 26: 288
• August 25: 346
• August 24: 225
• August 23: 288
• August 22: 427
• August 21: 313
• August 20: 302
• August 19: 399
• August 18: 400
• August 17: 316
• August 16: 329
• August 15: 464
• August 14: 585
• August 13: 699
• August 12: 484
• August 11: 498
• August 10: 258
• August 9: 378
• August 8: 379
• August 7: 384
• August 6: 411
• August 5: 378
• August 4: 416
• August 3: 264
• August 2: 331
• August 1: 393
• July 31: 699
• July 30: 261
• July 29: 489
• July 28: 565
• July 27: 446
• July 26: 512
• July 25: 547
• July 24: 488
• July 23: 344
• July 22: 390
• July 21: 424
• July 20: 177
• July 19: 144
• July 18: 309
• July 17: 202
• July 16: 254
• July 15: 396
• July 14: 423
• July 13: 231
• July 12: 349
• July 11: 438
• July 10: 367
• July 9: 354
• July 8: 335
• July 7: 310
• July 6: 216
• July 5: 398
• July 4: 303
• July 3: 386
• July 2: 539
• July 1: 423
• June 30: 461
• June 29: 156
• June 28: 354
• June 27: 347
• June 26: 524
• June 25: 406
• June 24: 317
• June 23: 382
• June 22: 359
• June 21: 411
• June 20: 446
• June 19: 516
• June 18: 442
• June 17: 330
• June 16: 470
• June 15: 274
• June 14: 305
• June 13: 523
• June 12: 495
• June 11: 539
• June 10: 611
• June 9: 375
• June 8: 356
• June 7: 426
• June 6: 606
• June 5: 864
• June 4: 603
• June 3: 652
• June 2: 708
• June 1: 509
• May 31: 868
• May 30: 910
• May 29: 1,117
• May 28: 1,261
• May 27: 970
• May 26: 703
• May 25: 965
• May 24: 1,065
• May 23: 443
• May 22: 1,394
• May 21: 1,304
• May 20: 1,670
• May 19: 1,055
• May 18: 1,735
• May 17: 1,272
• May 16: 1,239
• May 15: 1,297
• May 14: 1,216
• May 13: 1,028
• May 12: 898
• May 11: 1,453
• May 10: 1,503
• May 9: 1,759
• May 8: 1,985
• May 7: 1,827
• May 6: 1,513
• May 5: 2,494
• May 4: 1,621
• May 3: 3,144
• May 2: 2,912
• May 1: 2,651
• April 30: 2,633
• April 29: 2,481
• April 28: 2,887
• April 27: 2,146
• April 26: 3,730
• April 25: 3,457
• April 24: 3,047
• April 23: 4,427
• April 22: 3,551
• April 21: 3,644
• April 20: 3,528
• April 19: 3,915
• April 18: 3,026
• April 17: 3,250
• April 16: 4,391
• April 15: 2,625
• April 14: 4,049
• April 13: 3,219
• April 12: 3,733
• April 11: 3,599
• April 10: 3,627
• April 9: 3,748
• April 8: 3,088
• April 7: 3,361
• April 6: 3,663
• April 5: 3,482
• April 4: 4,331
• April 3: 4,372
• April 2: 3,489
• April 1: 3,649
• March 31: 2,196
• March 30: 3,347
• March 29: 2,316
• March 28: 2,289
• March 27: 1,982
• March 26: 2,492
• March 25: 736
• March 24: 846
• March 23: 935
• March 22: 590
• March 21: 442
• March 20: 155
• March 19: 318
• March 18: 162
• March 17: 89
• March 16: 80
• March 15: 31
• March 14: 19
• March 13: 21
• March 12: 21
• March 11: 8
• March 10: 4
• March 9: 5
• March 8: 6
• March 7: 1
• March 6: 1
• March 5: 1
• March 4: 1

Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day:

• January 10: 32
• January 9: 102
• January 8: 112
• January 7: 123
• January 6: 104
• January 5: 138
• January 4: 38
• January 3: 21
• January 2: 27
• January 1: 119
• December 31: 90
• December 30: 99
• December 29: 127
• December 28: 21
• December 27: 20
• December 26: 19
• December 25: 51
• December 24: 80
• December 23: 103
• December 22: 104
• December 21: 29
• December 20: 21
• December 19: 49
• December 18: 44
• December 17: 77
• December 16: 91
• December 15: 97
• December 14: 25
• December 13: 24
• December 12: 71
• December 11: 55
• December 10: 68
• December 9: 91
• December 8: 90
• December 7: 17
• December 6: 15
• December 5: 53
• December 4: 48
• December 3: 64
• December 2: 56
• December 1: 90
• November 30: 15
• November 29: 13
• November 28: 24
• November 27: 19
• November 26: 39
• November 25: 50
• November 24: 48
• November 23: 11
• November 22: 15
• November 21: 34
• November 20: 23
• November 19: 34
• November 18: 27
• November 17: 38
• November 16: 14
• November 15: 18
• November 14: 26
• November 13: 28
• November 12: 18
• November 11: 15
• November 10: 21
• November 9: 11
• November 8: 4
• November 7: 11
• November 6: 13
• November 5: 12
• November 4: 9
• November 3: 18
• November 2: 3
• November 1: 4
• October 31: 12
• October 30: 7
• October 29: 8
• October 28: 14
• October 27: 14
• October 26: 7
• October 25: 4
• October 24: 8
• October 23: 11
• October 22: 18
• October 21: 18
• October 20: 13
• October 19: 4
• October 18: 7
• October 17: 2
• October 16: 5
• October 15: 6
• October 14: 9
• October 13: 7
• October 12: 1
• October 11: 3
• October 10: 7
• October 9: 6
• October 8: 11
• October 7: 4
• October 6: 9
• October 5: 2
• October 4: 1
• October 3: 4
• October 2: 4
• October 1: 5
• September 30: 9
• September 29: 10
• September 28: 1
• September 27: 3
• September 26: 6
• September 25: 7
• September 24: 10
• September 23: 7
• September 22: 7
• September 21: 2
• September 20: 3
• September 19: 3
• September 18: 5
• September 17: 3
• September 16: 9
• September 15: 9
• September 14: 3
• September 13: 4
• September 12: 4
• September 11: 9
• September 10: 5
• September 9: 7
• September 8: 5
• September 7: 2
• September 6: 4
• September 5: 7
• September 4: 7
• September 3: 9
• September 2: 11
• September 1: 7
• August 31: 8
• August 30: 4
• August 29: 4
• August 28: 9
• August 27: 7
• August 26: 11
• August 25: 5
• August 24: 3
• August 23: 3
• August 22: 3
• August 21: 13
• August 20: 8
• August 19: 11
• August 18: 10
• August 17: 4
• August 16: 4
• August 15: 7
• August 14: 10
• August 13: 8
• August 12: 9
• August 11: 14
• August 10: 4
• August 9: 5
• August 8: 9
• August 7: 12
• August 6: 8
• August 5: 8
• August 4: 11
• August 3: 10
• August 2: 6
• August 1: 11
• July 31: 10
• July 30: 16
• July 29: 18
• July 28: 24
• July 27: 17
• July 26: 11
• July 25: 16
• July 24: 36
• July 23: 23
• July 22: 24
• July 21: 21
• July 20: 9
• July 19: 11
• July 18: 16
• July 17: 20
• July 16: 32
• July 15: 27
• July 14: 28
• July 13: 22
• July 12: 16
• July 11: 49
• July 10: 31
• July 9: 28
• July 8: 53
• July 7: 52
• July 6: 20
• July 5: 23
• July 4: 25
• July 3: 58
• July 2: 27
• July 1: 45
• June 30: 47
• June 29: 18
• June 28: 30
• June 27: 36
• June 26: 44
• June 25: 26
• June 24: 48
• June 23: 57
• June 22: 27
• June 21: 17
• June 20: 25
• June 19: 37
• June 18: 38
• June 17: 47
• June 16: 51
• June 15: 52
• June 14: 40
• June 13: 103
• June 12: 48
• June 11: 70
• June 10: 74
• June 9: 91
• June 8: 40
• June 7: 79
• June 6: 60
• June 5: 79
• June 4: 92
• June 3: 112
• June 2: 51
• June 1: 27
• May 31: 66
• May 30: 113
• May 29: 131
• May 28: 66
• May 27: 148
• May 26: 54
• May 25: 16
• May 24: 52
• May 23: 96
• May 22: 146
• May 21: 98
• May 20: 168
• May 19: 162
• May 18: 83
• May 17: 107
• May 16: 116
• May 15: 201
• May 14: 244
• May 13: 197
• May 12: 198
• May 11: 59
• May 10: 140
• May 9: 166
• May 8: 162
• May 7: 254
• May 6: 308
• May 5: 334
• May 4: 45
• May 3: 137
• May 2: 205
• May 1: 311
• April 30: 460
• April 29: 329
• April 28: 402
• April 27: 106
• April 26: 75
• April 25: 249
• April 24: 253
• April 23: 307
• April 22: 314
• April 21: 379
• April 20: 177
• April 19: 132
• April 18: 231
• April 17: 323
• April 16: 362
• April 15: 351
• April 14: 365
• April 13: 94
• April 12: 168
• April 11: 251
• April 10: 233
• April 9: 198
• April 8: 275
• April 7: 232
• April 6: 86
• April 5: 71
• April 4: 200
• April 3: 113
• April 2: 182
• April 1: 91
• March 31: 69
• March 30: 37
• March 29: 21
• March 28: 32
• March 27: 27
• March 26: 19
• March 25: 18
• March 24: 17
• March 23: 7
• March 22: 4
• March 21: 5
• March 20: 2
• March 19: 4
• March 18: 3
• March 17: 0
• March 16: 1
• March 15: 0
• March 14: 1
• March 13: 0
• March 12: 0
• March 11: 0
• March 10: 1