NJ S2421

Small businesses (50 or fewer full-time employees meeting federal Small Business Act criteria) would have administrative fines and civil penalties suspended for first-time paperwork violations related to State agency information collection requirements.

Fines may still be imposed if the violation could cause serious harm to public interest, impede criminal detection, involves tax/debt/revenue collection, presents a danger to public safety, or is not corrected within six months of written notification.

For violations presenting public safety danger, agencies may use discretion to allow 24 hours for correction, considering the nature and seriousness of the violation, good faith compliance efforts, and whether significant economic benefit was gained.

The suspension does not apply to businesses with prior violations of information collection requirements from the same agency, though violations with other agencies are not counted.

State agencies must adopt rules and regulations to implement this section; the act takes effect immediately upon enactment.