SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 533

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 2, 2026

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 533.

      This bill requires any employer who has one or more employees serving customers or other individuals in a place of public accommodation or other public facility, or otherwise has the ability to provide or deny access to the place or facility, to provide training to those employees regarding the right of an individual with a disability to have a guide or service dog in places of public accommodation or other public facilities under the relevant provisions of State and federal law.  An employer may satisfy the training requirement of the bill by utilizing training that may be provided at no cost by the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or any other entity, or may, at its discretion, implement a training program at its own cost.

      Finally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to prepare and provide for the distribution of a pamphlet about the topics included in the training and the right of individuals with disabilities to have guide or service dogs.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.