5. a. A temporary help service firm or a third party client, or a contractor or agent of either, shall charge no fee to a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement to transport a temporary laborer to or from the designated work site.

b. A temporary help service firm shall be jointly and severally liable for the conduct and performance of any person who transports a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement from the firm to a work site, unless the transporter is:

(1) a public mass transportation system;

(2) a common carrier;

(3) the temporary laborer providing his or her own transportation; or

(4) selected exclusively by and at the sole choice of the temporary laborer for transportation in a vehicle not owned or operated by the temporary help service firm.

If any temporary help service firm provides transportation to a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement or refers a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement as provided in subsection d. of this section, the temporary help service firm shall not allow a motor vehicle to be used for the transporting of temporary laborers if the temporary help service firm knows or should know that the motor vehicle used for the transportation of temporary laborers is unsafe or not equipped as required by P.L.2023, c.10 (C. 34:8D-1 et al.), unless the vehicle is:

(1) the property of a public mass transportation system;

(2) the property of a common carrier;

(3) the temporary laborer’s personal vehicle; or

(4) a vehicle of a temporary laborer used to carpool other temporary laborers and which is selected exclusively by and at the sole choice of the temporary laborer for transportation.

c. A temporary help service firm shall not require a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement to use transportation provided by the firm or by another provider of transportation services.

d. A temporary help service firm shall not refer a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement to any person for transportation to a work site unless that person is:

(1) a public mass transportation system; or

(2) providing the transportation at no fee to the temporary laborer.

Directing a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement to accept a specific car pool as a condition of work shall be considered a referral by the temporary help service firm. Any mention or discussion of the cost of a car pool shall be considered a referral by the temporary help service firm. Informing a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement of the availability of a car pool driven by another temporary laborer shall not be considered a referral by the temporary help service firm.

The temporary help service firm shall obtain, and keep on file, documentation that any provider of transportation to a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement that the temporary help service firm makes referrals to or contracts with is in compliance with the requirements of subsections e., f., and g. of this section. The commissioner may randomly audit a temporary help service firm to ensure that the firm is maintaining the documentation required by this subsection.

e. Any motor vehicle that is owned or operated by a temporary help service firm that makes designated classification placements or a third party client of such a firm, or a contractor or agent of either, or to which a temporary help service firm refers a temporary laborer in a designated classification, which is used for the transportation of temporary laborers in a designated classification placement, shall comply with minimum insurance requirements set by the State of New Jersey. The driver of the vehicle shall hold a valid license to operate motor vehicles in the correct classification and shall be required to produce the license immediately upon demand by the commissioner or any other person authorized to enforce P.L.2023, c.10 (C. 34:8D-1 et al.). The commissioner shall forward a violation of this subsection to the appropriate law enforcement authority or regulatory agency.

f. A motor vehicle that is owned or operated by the temporary help service firm that makes designated classification placements or a third party client of such a firm, or a contractor or agent of either, or to which a temporary help service firm refers a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement, which is used for the transportation of temporary laborers in a designated classification placement, shall have a seat and a safety belt for each passenger. The commissioner shall forward a violation of this subsection to the appropriate law enforcement authority or regulatory agency.

g. Unless the temporary laborer in a designated classification placement requests otherwise, when a temporary laborer in a designated classification placement has been transported to a work site, the temporary help service firm or a third party client, or a contractor or agent of either, shall provide transportation back to the point of hire at the end of each work day.

h. The obligations imposed by this section shall be in addition to those set forth in subsection d. of section 14 of P.L.1981, c.1 (C. 56:8-1.1) and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

i. The commissioner may promulgate regulations under this section in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

j. The commissioner may assess a penalty against a temporary help service firm that violates this section or any rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this section of up to $5,000 for each violation, except that the penalty for a violation of the recordkeeping requirements of this section shall not exceed $500 for each violation. Each day that a temporary help service firm fails to comply with this section shall constitute a separate offense. Any penalty assessed under this section shall be collected by the commissioner in a summary proceeding in accordance with the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C. 2A:58-10 et seq.).

L.2023, c.10, s.5.