N.J. Admin. Code § Executive Order No. 19 (2018)
Declaration that Minors Between 14 and 17 Years of Age Shall Continue to be Permitted to Work as Volunteers for Nonprofit Organizations Engaged in Housing Construction
Issued: March 29, 2018.
Effective: March 29, 2018.
WHEREAS, Superstorm Sandy ("Sandy") devastated the State of New Jersey beginning on October 28, 2012 and continuing through October 30, 2012, destroying entire communities and causing significant damage throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, while substantial progress has been made due to the efforts of first responders, state and local governmental leaders, private businesses, non-profit organizations, and dedicated volunteers, recovery efforts remain underway and many residents are still in need of assistance; and
WHEREAS, many of the non-profit organizations assisting with ongoing recovery rely on volunteers, including high school students between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, to repair, rebuild, and reconstruct homes destroyed by Sandy under the direct supervision of qualified adults; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to enable these youth volunteers to legally assist with Sandy recovery, Governor Christie signed Executive Order No. 137 (2013); and
WHEREAS, that Order, signed in furtherance of the continuing State of Emergency initially declared on October 27, 2012, suspended the enforcement of N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.17d, which restricts the nature and manner of volunteer construction work that minors between the ages of fourteen and seventeen may perform as volunteers for non-profit housing organizations; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 137 (2013) assured that minors between fourteen and seventeen years of age would be permitted, in appropriate circumstances, to work as volunteers for non-profit organizations engaged in housing construction; and
WHEREAS, Governor Christie periodically extended Executive Order No. 137 (2013), with the most recent Order, Executive Order No. 220 (2017), being executed on March 2, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 220 (2017), by its terms, expired on January 16, 2018; and
WHEREAS, since 2013, more than 4,000 youth volunteers have performed repair and construction work on Sandy-damaged homes in coordination with various non-profit organizations; and
WHEREAS, continuing to afford available youth volunteers with opportunities to engage in such repair and construction work, while maintaining all other safeguards that protect minors engaged in construction, will continue to help New Jerseyans return to their homes; and
WHEREAS, with the spring construction season about to commence, it is in the best interest of the State and all those impacted by Sandy to allow and encourage the continued efforts of youth volunteers;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
N.J. Admin. Code Executive Order No. 19 (2018)