New Jersey Food Council
30 West Lafayette St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609/392-8899
Fax: 609/396-6571
Email: mailto:njfc@njfoodcouncil.com

PLANT CLOSING BILL SENT TO GOVERNOR

This week the General Assembly passed A-1044, the Plant Closing Pre-notification bill, strongly opposed by NJFC and the business community in New Jersey.   At this point the bill has been passed out of both houses and sent to Governor Corzine can either sign, veto or conditionally veto the bill. 

The bill as approved by the Legislature would require businesses employing 100 or more full time employees, who transfer or terminate 50 or more full time employees in a 30 day period to provide not less then 90 days notice.   The bill also provides generous severance pay equal to one week of pay for each full year of employment.

NJFC has heard rumors that the Governor’s Office is considering conditionally vetoing the bill to reduce notification days from 90 to 60.  If this occurs, the bill would be identical to the federal WARN Act, however would include stiffer New Jersey penalties through the severance pay requirement.

STATE BUDGET NEARS FINISH LINE

NJFC has learned that an agreement between Lawmakers on the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 has been reached.  The final budget bill will most likely be approved by the Legislature and sent to the Governor on June 21, 2007. 

While we do not know what the final budget document will look like, it is likely that the bill will include the elimination of two business taxes paid by many NJFC members including the Alternative Minimum Assessment (AMA) and the double taxation on S-corporations. 

NJFC will continue to monitor the budget process and advocate for the expiration of these two onerous taxes.

ON THE NJFC CALENDAR NEXT WEEK

Monday, June 18:  NJFC will be meeting with Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance at Lorenzo’s in Trenton at 5:00 pm to discuss issues important to the food distribution industry. 

Tuesday, June 19:  NJFC will be meeting with EBT and WIC representatives to receive a presentation on the two programs at the Division of Family Development in Hamilton NJ.

Also on Tuesday, NJFC and members of the Government Affairs Committee will be meeting with Assemblyman Albano at 1:00 pm to discuss his bill, A-3812, which would provide Paid Family Leave for workers in New Jersey.  NJFC stands shoulder to shoulder with the business community in strong opposition to this proposal. 

Thursday, June 21:  A meeting of the NJFC Loss Prevention Committee will be held at Pathmark located at 200 Milik Street, Carteret, NJ beginning at 9:00 am. 

PROPOSED IDENTITY THEFT REGULATIONS TO BE REVISED

After much hard work on behalf of NJFC, the Division of Consumer Affairs has decided to revisit proposed regulations regarding security breaches of sensitive personal information at retail locations.  Originally, the proposed regulation included language that required retailers to “mitigate damages” in the event a breach of security has occurred.  NJFC strongly opposes this language because it could be interpreted very broadly and go beyond the intention of the authorizing legislation.  NJFC would like to thank members who responded to this proposed regulation and expressed the industry’s concerns. 

Photos Galore

Don't forget to check out our library page to view photographs from our events.