A5623

An Act concerning job training and retraining to develop workforce following end of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is created a commission to be known as the "Coronavirus Recovery and Reskilling of Workers Commission," which shall be a permanent, independent body in but not of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The commission shall consist of seven members as follows: the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, ex officio, who shall serve as chair of the commission, and six members appointed by the Governor as follows: one person who shall be nominated by an organization that represents the interests of the business community in this State, one person who shall be nominated by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA), two persons who shall be nominated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, and two persons representing the interests of community colleges.

b. Members shall be appointed not later than December 31, 2021. Members shall be appointed for four-year terms and may be re-appointed for any number of terms. Any member of the commission may be removed from office by the Governor, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term. A member shall continue to serve upon the expiration of the member’s term until a successor is appointed and qualified, unless the member is removed by the Governor.

c. Action may be taken by the commission by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members and a majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, for the performance of any duty, or for the exercise of any power of the commission.

d. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose.

e. The purpose of the commission shall be to: (1) develop, oversee, administer and assist in the implementation of a coherent, integrated system of workforce recovery investment programs and services which, in concert with the efforts of the private sector, will help displaced and incumbent workers learn new skills to find new careers while building an education and workforce development ecosystem driven by the needs of New Jersey employers; and (2) create a partnership between New Jersey’s community colleges and the business community, with close connections to vocational-technical schools, four-year colleges and universities, and workforce development boards to ensure programs are responsive to the needs of New Jersey employer.

e. As used in this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

“Commission” means Coronavirus Recovery and Reskilling of Workers Commission.

“Department” means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

2. The commission shall establish and oversee, and as appropriate, coordinate:

a. The Pathway and Skills Collaborative Program, in accordance with section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), of the following industries: Health Services, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Innovation and Technology, Energy, Construction and Financial Services;

b. Industry-specific Centers of Excellence, in accordance with section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) at specific community colleges, in close partnership with vocational-technical high schools, workforce development boards, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions and other training provider partners;

c. Reskilling and Recovery Programs for unemployed individuals through community colleges, in accordance with section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

d. An increased investment in the New Jersey Basic Skills Training Program, established pursuant to P.L.2009, c.199 (C. 34:15D-21.1 et seq.) from the Supplemental Fund for Workforce Basic Skills established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.152 (C.34:15D-21); and

e. The integration of workforce development programs with community colleges in order to expand access to industry-valued credentials for adults in accordance with section 6 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. a. There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the Pathway and Skills Collaborative Program, focused on the following industries: Health Services, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Innovation and Technology, Energy, Construction and Financial Services, which shall be managed by the New Jersey Community College Consortium of Workforce and Economic Development, and shall:

(1) Build a connected training ecosystem of community colleges, vocational-technical schools, workforce development boards, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions and other training providers in each industry;

(2) Convene Industry Leadership Teams of businesses and labor unions to guide each collaborative to identify industry-valued credentials and competencies associated with each, in consultation with the department;

(3) Document and promote education and career pathways with embedded and stackable credentials that are responsive to the needs of employers in the State;

(4) Analyze and disseminate labor market data and longitudinal education and employment data to drive education decisions of educational institutions;

(5) Promote the use of the Community College Opportunity Grant Program, created by P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-111 et seq.) to upgrade the skills of incumbent workers;

(6) Promote the expansion of apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities for students;

(7) Develop and promote public-private partnerships to leverage federal and philanthropic funding opportunities;

(8) Develop an annual education and workforce development strategy for each industry tied to the unique needs of the state’s regions; and

(9) Host regular meetings of ecosystem education and employer partners to facilitate collaboration.

b. To the fullest extent possible, the Pathway and Skills Collaborative Program shall first be funded by any available federal funds, including, but not limited to, a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136, funds available to the State from the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, and any other federal funds that have been made available to the State with regard to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, to effectuate the purposes of this section to ensure that all reskilling, reemployment, and recovery efforts are better aligned with the needs of employers in the State. To the extent that federal funds do not adequately fund the program, the department shall request annually as part of its budget proposal funds not to exceed $3.5 million as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

4. a. There shall be established six Centers of Excellence at specific community colleges, in close partnership with vocational-technical high schools, workforce development boards, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions and other training provider partners. Each of the six centers shall coordinate with one of the six Pathways and Skills Collaborative industry programs, established in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. The centers shall work to:

(1) Expand stackable credential pathways with multiple on-ramps and off-ramps for individuals at all stages of their lives and careers;

(2) Develop new curriculum and programs guided by industry partners, with a focus on embedding credentials into existing degree programs and building pathways between high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities. All curriculum and materials shall be shared Statewide;

(3) Develop degree-apprenticeship programs;

(4) Expand the use of prior learning assessments and expand pathways from workforce training to degree programs at community colleges; and

(5) Implement pilot education and training programs to meet industry needs, including training for displaced and incumbent workers.

c. To the fullest extent possible, the Centers of Excellence shall first be funded by any available federal funds, including, but not limited to, a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136, funds available to the State from the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, and any other federal funds that have been made available to the State with regard to the coronavirus disease pandemic, to effectuate the purposes of this section.

To the extent that federal funds do not adequately fund the program, the department shall request annually as part of its budget proposal funds not to exceed $5 million as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.

5. a. The New Jersey Community College Consortium of Workforce and Economic Development, in consultation with the commission, shall work with community colleges, in partnership with vocational-technical high schools, to establish Reskilling and Recovery Programs for unemployed individuals to provide short-term training to dislocated workers.

b. The Reskilling and Recovery Programs shall:

(1) Lead to the attainment of industry-valued credentials, identified through the Pathway and Skills Collaborative process in partnership with the department.

(2) Address the needs of local employers.

(3) Connect to stackable credential pathways that lead to degree programs at community colleges and four-year college and university partners in order to promote longer term mobility for workers.

c. Employers participating in the programs would be eligible for a $2,000 stipend per employee to defray the cost of on-the-job training and onboarding of new employees. Up to 2,000 workers shall be eligible for the program.

d. To the fullest extent possible, the Reskilling and Recovery Programs shall first be funded by any available federal funds, including, but not limited to, a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136, funds available to the State from the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, and any other federal funds that have been made available to the State, for use by the New Jersey Community College Consortium of Workforce and Economic Development, to effectuate the purposes of this section.

To the extent that federal funds do not adequately fund the program, the department shall request annually as part of its budget proposal funds, not to exceed $4 million for the cost of worker stipends, and not to exceed $8 million as may be necessary and available for the Reskilling and Recovery Programs, for use by the New Jersey Community College Consortium of Workforce and Economic Development, to effectuate the purposes of this section.

6. The commission, in consultation with the department, shall integrate Workforce Development Programs with community colleges in order to expand access to industry-valued credentials for adults by:

a. Expanding the presence of One-Stop Career Centers on community college campuses by replicating existing centers operating at county community colleges in the State at county community colleges in the State that do not yet have career centers.

b. Establishing community colleges as a primary provider of industry-valued credential training throughout the State’s workforce development system.

c. Encouraging the State Employment and Training Commission and local Workforce Development Boards to develop strategies and plans for building strong alignment and collaboration between Community Colleges and all State and federal workforce development programs.

d. Expanding collaborative efforts between existing State and federal workforce development programs and community colleges to expand attainment of industry-valued credentials, including:

(1) Services of individuals with disabilities through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services;

(2) Services to adults with low levels of literacy through Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Pub. L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.); and

(3) Services to individuals receiving public assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service in the United States Department of Agriculture and established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).

e. Expanding advancement opportunities for workers by linking customized training to pathways to credentials and degrees with the Community College Opportunity Grant program.

7. To the fullest extent possible, funding to expand basic skills training to qualified displaced, disadvantaged or employed workers shall be appropriated to an account reserved for a grant to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, a part of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges first from any available federal funds, including, but not limited to, a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136, funds available to the State from the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, and any other federal funds that have been made available to the State, for use by the New Jersey Community College Consortium of Workforce and Economic Development, to effectuate the purposes of this section.

To the extent that federal funds do not adequate fund this expansion of basic skills training, the department shall request as part of its annual budget proposal funds not $3 million to effectuate the purposes of this section. This request is in addition to any funds provided through the allocation dedicated to the same grant in the “Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills” for existing basic skills training programs.

8. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill creates the "Coronavirus Recovery and Reskilling of Workers Commission," an independent body in but not of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The purpose of the commission will be to:

(1) develop, oversee, administer and assist in the implementation of a coherent, integrated system of workforce recovery investment programs and services which, in concert with the efforts of the private sector, will help displaced and incumbent workers learn new skills to find new careers while building an education and workforce development ecosystem driven by the needs of New Jersey employers; and

(2) create a partnership between New Jersey’s community colleges and the business community, with close connections to vocational-technical schools, four-year colleges and universities, and workforce development boards to ensure programs are responsive to the needs of New Jersey employer.

Specifically, the commission will, as appropriate, establish and oversee, and coordinate:

(1) The Pathway and Skills Collaborative Program, of the following six industries: Health Services, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Innovation and Technology, Energy, Construction and Financial Services;

(2) Industry-specific Centers of Excellence at specific community colleges, in close partnership with vocational-technical high schools, workforce development boards, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions and other training provider partners;

(3) Reskilling and Recovery Programs for unemployed individuals through community colleges;

(4) An increased investment in the New Jersey Basic Skills Training Program, established pursuant to P.L.2009, c.199 (C. 34:15D-21.1 et seq.); and

(5) The integration of workforce development programs with community colleges in order to expand access to industry-valued credentials for adults.

The bill provides that, to the fullest extent possible, funding for the programs in the bill will first come from any available federal funds, including, but not limited to, a portion of those federal block grant funds allocated to the State from the federal “Coronavirus Relief Fund,” established pursuant to the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” Pub.L.116-136, funds available to the State from the federal “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” Pub.L.117-2, and any other federal funds that have been made available to the State.

The bill further provides that to the extent federal funding is inadequate to fund the programs, the in the bill Department of Labor and Workforce Development will request funding through its annual budget proposal.