This bill mandates the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Department of Law and Public Safety to hire additional staff to address the significant backlog of professional license applications and renewals. To facilitate this, the bill appropriates $10,000,000 annually for the fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The funding aims to provide the necessary resources to improve the efficiency of the licensing process, which is crucial for economic development and consumer protection in New Jersey.

Additionally, the bill requires the Division of Consumer Affairs to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the spending authorized by the act. This report will include information on the number of new staff hired, the initial and final backlogs of applications and renewals, and the overall impact of the additional resources on the licensing process. The act is designed to ensure that the Division can effectively manage the licensing workload and maintain service levels across regulated professions.