What’s Important to Know About NJ This Week –07/06/2024

Jul 6, 2024

Protections for Domestic Workers Take Effect, Meal Eligibility Expanded for Students During School Year, Increased Respite for Families, Former Gov. Kean – Biden Should Drop Out

New Law Protecting Domestic Workers Take Effect

New Jersey Monitor

As of Monday, employers must pay domestic workers no less than the state’s minimum wage of $15.13 per hour. Under prior law, part-time child care providers working primarily in their employer’s home were exempted from the state’s minimum wage.

Other provisions require employers to provide domestic workers with written contracts that lay out their job responsibilities, wages, schedules, breaks, and regular paydays, among other things. The contracts cannot include mandatory arbitration agreements or certain confidentiality agreements. Read More

Expanded Meal Program for Students from Working-Class Families

NJ Spotlight News

The Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act, signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in January, raised the upper limit on household income that triggers help with meals at school to 224% of the federal poverty line, from the previous 200% for New Jersey students.

The new limit means students from a family of four will qualify for school meals if the family has an annual income of less than $69,888, based on the federal poverty line for 2024.

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But fewer students are eligible for free food when school is out during the summer. Eligibility for summer meals is based on the federal Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program that feeds children from families with incomes under 185% of the poverty line. That will mean kids from New Jersey families with incomes of more than the federal limit won’t qualify for food assistance over the summer break, even if they qualify when the new school year starts. Read More

Increased Respite Hours for Families with Children with Disabilities

northjersey.com

Murphy on Friday signed S2491/A3412, which raised the number of hours respite care workers can put in from 60 hours in a three-month period to 90. The 50% increase is an effort to address the shortfall of available caregivers within the Children’s System of Care, a state program that provides services for thousands of children with disabilities. Read More

Former Gov. Kean – Biden Should Step Out

Jersey Vindicator

“Joe Biden has been a good public servant. I tend to believe he’s been a good president, but what we saw the other night with somebody whose faculties are diminished. And if you’ve watched Joe Biden over the last months and years, it’s getting worse,” Kean said. “So I think in the interest of the country, he probably should give the job to somebody else.” Read More

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