FREEHOLD, NJ – A bill that will impose new regulations for indoor and outdoor dining in support of Governor Phil Murphy’s pandemic shutdown is scheduled to be heard at the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Hearing on May 6th at 1 pm.
The bill, sponsored by Monmouth County Democrat Vin Gopal, endorsed by Ocean County Republican Jim Holzapfel, Tony Bucco and Nilsa Cruz-Perez will create a list of strict rules and regulations for restaurants to follow in 2021 as the Murphy chokehold on those businesses continue.
Bill Co-Sponsor Holzapfel in 2020 introduced another COVID-19 bill that sought to fine New Jerseyans $15,000 for violating Phil Murphy’s executive orders restricting family and small social gatherings.
According to the bill sponsored by Gopal, it provides for the regulation of the operation of indoor food or beverage establishments during the public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The bill will enforce employee protocols on how to monitor for signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019, including developing business policies for the following events:
- Policy for dealing with sick employees.
- Policy for a shutdown plan in the event that an employee contracts COVID-19.
- A social distancing policy.
- Maximum capacity policy.
- Making hand sanitizers available to guests and employees.
- Construction of barriers between stations and tables less than six feet apart.
- Limits on number of persons in a single restroom at one time.
- Employee hand-washing policies.
- Regulate proper ventilation systems in small restaurants and businesses.
- Make masks available to all employees at no cost.
- A business disinfecting policy.
- Require businesses to certify all of the above with their local health department.