New Jersey Assembly Bill A1103

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Authorizes municipalities to regulate Internet-organized events.

Impact

The proposed bill is intended to lessen the financial burden on municipalities incurred from hosting large internet-organized events. By implementing a regulatory structure, local governments can institute registration fees, capped at a maximum of five dollars per attendee, to help offset public costs associated with these events. This framework aims to enhance the ability of municipalities to ensure public safety and the orderly conduct of gatherings while supporting local commercial entities trying to attract attendees.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1103 seeks to empower municipalities in New Jersey with the authority to regulate events that are organized online. This legislation allows local governments to establish a framework that would enable proprietors of commercial establishments to participate in these events, which have begun to proliferate due to the increasing use of the internet for various types of gatherings. The idea behind this bill is to create guidelines that can effectively manage such events, addressing both public safety concerns and logistical considerations as these gatherings can often draw large crowds.

Contention

While the bill promotes the registration and regulation of internet-organized events, it may encounter opposition concerning the nature of local government authority versus state regulations. Some stakeholders may argue that this could lead to excessive bureaucratic processes, which may dissuade businesses from hosting events. Further, there could be concerns regarding fairness, as registration fees might disproportionately affect smaller businesses or startups that rely on such events for exposure and income.