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NJ Governor signs legislation for immigrants’ rights
Murphy signed three bills into law to advance immigrants' rights in New Jersey
Governor Murphy signs legislation strengthening protections for domestic workers / Image - X @GovMurphy
Governor Phil Murphy has signed a series of immigrant rights bills in New Jersey, aimed at strengthening the rights of domestic workers, promoting language access to government services and benefits, and enhancing the understanding of the diversity within the state’s communities.
“In New Jersey, our greatest strength lies in our diversity,” said Governor Murphy. “These bills recognize that our state’s immigrant families and diverse communities enrich our cultural, social, and economic identity. I am proud to sign legislation that supports New Jerseyans in achieving the American Dream, accessing government services, and being appropriately represented in data and analytics that may inform our work.”
Murphy signed three bills into law to advance immigrants' rights in New Jersey. The first bill, S-723/A-822 (Codey/Timberlake, Jasey, Reynolds-Jackson), establishes the 'New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act,' aiming to strengthen the rights of domestic workers.
The second bill, S-2459/ACS for A-3837 (Ruiz, Pou, Cruz-Perez/Jaffer, Park, Stanley), mandates state government entities to provide vital documents and translation services in the 15 most commonly spoken languages other than English.
The third bill, A-3092wGR/S2415 (Stanley, Jaffer, Mukherji/Gopal, Ruiz), requires state agencies to update demographic data collection methods, particularly focusing on Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian, and Indian Diaspora residents in the state.
The legislation also enhances the rights of domestic workers by providing protection against discrimination and harassment, ensuring health and safety safeguards, and safeguarding privacy rights. It eliminates the current exclusion of certain domestic workers from the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law.
The bill mandates domestic employers to establish a written contract with domestic workers, stipulates requirements for rest and meal break times, and necessitates employers to provide advance notice to domestic workers before termination. Additionally, the legislation imposes penalties for violations, including measures against employer retaliation, and mandates employers to inform domestic workers about their rights.
With immediate effect, the bill also requires translations to be implemented on a rolling basis, completed within 23 months from the bill's effective date. Additionally, the legislation necessitates each state government entity offering direct services to the public to develop and implement a language access plan, encompassing an assessment of interpretation needs for individuals with limited English proficiency and a strategy to provide interpretation services accordingly.
"Our state has long been a cultural and ethnic melting pot, welcoming new immigrants from all over the world. As more and varied race and ethnic groups continue to come into New Jersey, state agencies must review and when necessary adjust data collection methods to reflect the demographic information of these newcomers to help agencies meet their specific needs as they arise,” Senator Vin Gopal noted.
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