The Senate voted in favor of an NJBIA-backed bill on Monday that would allow the state to be less heavy-handed with regulatory fines imposed on small businesses by providing a 60-day “cure period” to resolve minor first-time violations.
The legislation, A-4753/S-3208, would allow a state agency, department, or authority to waive the fine for a first-time violation committed by a small business provided the matter is resolved within the cure period and the offense involved does not harm employees, public safety, or environment. Small businesses are defined as those with 50 or fewer employees.
“NJBIA supports this legislation because the hefty fines associated with harmless regulatory violations can be devasting for small business owners who in many cases are unaware they have made a paperwork or other minor mistake,” NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Christopher Emigholz said. “This legislation will make the state less heavy-handed with fines and give small businesses an opportunity to resolve minor violations.”
The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-16) and Senator Vin Gopal (D-11), would not apply to criminal offenses, significant violations that are grounds for stop-work orders, or federal mandates that the state is required by law to enforce.
The Senate voted 38-0 in favor of the bill.
