OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today approved legislation introduced by Senator Vin Gopal that would allow licensed restaurants and bars to sell alcoholic beverages through takeout and delivery and allow distilleries to sell alcoholic beverages through takeout during the current state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRENTON - New bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Assemblyman Ron Dancer would establish a Long-Term Care Facility Infectious Disease Preparedness and Home Health Care Study Commission that would analyze the ability of long-term care facilities to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and determine new methods to encourage home health care in New Jersey.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Legislation introduced by Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) this Monday aims to prevent a shortage of medical providers due to COVID-19 by prohibiting a hospital from including a non-compete clause in a contract with a nurse or doctor who leaves that hospital to work for a group of fewer than 30 doctors, such as an independent practice or small physician group.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal (S2371) that would establish a New Jersey Hospitality Emergency Loan Program, which would provide immediate financial assistance for struggling hospitality businesses during the COVID-19 emergency. The program would be based on the Delaware program of the same name, announced on Wednesday by Delaware Governor John Carney.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Monmouth County legislators Senator Vin Gopal and Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey announced today the formation of a new 11th Legislative District COVID-19 Economic Recovery Advisory Council, which will bring together representatives from a diverse array of industries and communities to advance efforts to re-open New Jersey’s economy, improve public health outcomes, and expand access to resources for municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and local small businesses.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) is sponsoring a resolution (SCR111) urging the United States President and Congress to enact legislation forgiving community disaster loans issued after Superstorm Sandy.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - This week, Senator Vin Gopal introduced legislation temporarily banning insurance companies from auditing healthcare-related claims during the COVID-19 state of emergency in order to make sure patients can receive the accessible and affordable care they need, while also protecting hospitals from devoting additional staff efforts toward processing paperwork rather than caring for patients.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator and Senate Chair of Military and Veterans Affairs Vin Gopal is introducing a new Joint Resolution calling on the United States Congress to release funds offsetting COVID-19 related losses to the veteran memorial homes operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal introduced new legislation this week that would allow the governing body of a municipality to institute a 30-day grace period for third-quarter property tax payments due on August 1, 2020.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal introduced new legislation this week that would allow licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests authorized and approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

TRENTON – Legislation which would allow public notaries to authenticate documents remotely for the duration of the public health emergency was approved by the Senate today. The bill is sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein, Senator Vin Gopal, Senator Troy Singleton, and Senator Declan O’Scanlon.

Due to the expansion of unemployment, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is now available for independent contractors, gig workers, self-employed workers, and other 1099 workers. The Department of Labor is still in the process of implementing this program, but we encourage you to apply for unemployment now in order to take advantage of it when funds become available. You will likely be denied for ordinary unemployment benefits, but this rejection is a requirement to be eligible for PUA funds.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Senator Vin Gopal is sponsoring legislation introduced by Senator Mike Testa that would direct the Department of Health (DOH) to require the administration of COVID-19 tests for first responders and health care workers, whether they are asymptomatic or are exhibiting symptoms of the disease. The results of these tests would be expedited.