Representatives from ASA; the New Jersey Staffing Alliance, an ASA-affiliated chapter; and lobbyists representing staffing firms met last week with officials from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to discuss the pending regulations for the implementation of A 1474. Gov. Phil Murphy signed his conditional veto of A 1474 into law last month.

The hourlong meeting focused on the staffing industry’s concerns and suggestions for how state regulators might address certain sections of the new law. Among the areas of concern were the law’s equal pay provision—including the definition of “benefits” and “same or substantially similar work”—the limitation on conversion fees, and the transportation provisions.

Although state regulators were mostly in a “listen only” mode, they acknowledged that the regulations would need to clarify various parts of the new law. They said they were unlikely to meet the deadlines set out for final rules—90 days following the enactment of the law for section three and section 10, and 180 days following enactment for the rest of the law. They also said they would proceed with a “light enforcement touch” until final regulations were published and investigators were properly trained. Following the meeting, NJSA outside counsel Marc Freedman sent the department a letter offering sample language to address the industry’s various concerns. The letter is posted on americanstaffing.net.

ASA and NJSA will continue to update members as developments unfold. NJSA published an information sheet detailing the impact of the new law; it’s available to ASA members at americanstaffing.net.