(TRENTON) – Taking action to make it easier for minors to safely obtain working papers and seek employment during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law legislation to waive the current requirement that minors must appear before an issuing officer in-person to have their application for working papers approved.
Under the law (A-4804), sponsored by Assembly Democrats Joann Downey, Eric Houghtaling (both D-Monmouth) and Shanique Speight (D-Essex), the requirement could be fulfilled using audio-visual technology.
This law was part of a package of bills based upon recommendations from the coronavirus recovery Economic Advisory Council, established by Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, whose mission was to provide input and ideas to the State Legislature on how to help New Jersey’s economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The laws sponsors released the following joint statement:
“Though at times it may seem the pandemic has put our lives on pause, the world has kept turning, and young people are continuing to come of legal age to work. Some may want to get a job to learn responsibility and have a little extra spending money. Others may need to help support their families in these challenging times. This law will allow minors to obtain working papers remotely, ensuring the process is safe, simple and secure.”