New Jersey-2022-S1004-Introduced

An Act concerning protective health materials for farm workers, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health the sum of $5 million from a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund," established pursuant to the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act," Pub.L.116-136, for use by the department to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to an owner or operator of a farm for the purchase or reimbursement of personal protection equipment to be provided to farm workers at that farm to protect against the COVID-19 virus. The Commissioner of Health may also, at the commissioner's discretion, provide grants for the purchase or reimbursement of other items or materials that would improve the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including improvements made, or the planning of improvements, to housing and work stations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commissioner of Health may also issue stipends to farmworkers who get tested for the COVID-19 virus, test positive, and are subject to a period of mandatory quarantine, but who do not qualify for paid sick leave or unemployment insurance during a period of mandatory quarantine. The amount of any such stipend should be equal to half of the total pay that a farm worker would ordinarily receive for two weeks of work with their current farm employer. A stipend may not be awarded more than one time per individual.

b. The Department of Health shall provide notice on its Internet website of the availability of funding for the purchase of personal protection equipment, or other health and safety items or materials, for farm workers pursuant to this section. An owner or operator of a farm may apply for a grant in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

c. As used in this section:

"Farm worker" means any employee engaged to labor on a farm in the production, harvesting, and processing of agricultural products, and shall include any employee subject to the provisions of subsection d. of section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4).

"Personal protection equipment" means equipment, such as gloves and masks, to minimize the spread of disease.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill makes a $5 million appropriation to the Department of Health (department) from federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund," established pursuant to the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," for use by the department to provide grants to farmers for the purchase or reimbursement of "personal protection equipment" as defined in the bill, to be provided to "farm workers" as defined in the bill, to protect against the COVID-19 virus. The bill also provides the Commissioner of Health the discretion to provide grants for the purchase or reimbursement of items or materials, other than personal protection equipment, that would improve the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including improvements to housing or work stations.

The bill also permits the commissioner to issue stipends to farmworkers who get tested for the COVID-19 virus, test positive, and are required to quarantine, but do not qualify for paid sick days or unemployment insurance. The stipend is to be equal to half of the amount of pay that the farmworker would have received for two weeks of work on the farm. The stipend would not be issued to an individual more than once.

Block grant funds distributed to states from the federal "Coronavirus Relief Fund," are to be used for costs associated with controlling the COVID-19 virus and mitigating the economic damage caused by the pandemic. This bill would provide assistance to owners and operators of farms to help ensure that the health of farm workers is protected and at the same time providing that one of the State's critical industries can continue to function safely during this crisis.