Bill Text: NJ A3757 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes pilot program to provide summer employment opportunities to underserved youth and young adults.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-07 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [A3757 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A3757-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman JASON O'DONNELL
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes pilot program to provide summer employment opportunities to underserved youth and young adults.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a youth summer employment pilot program in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and supplementing P.L.1999, c.279 (C.34:15F-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Beginning in the first calendar year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish and assist in the implementation of a "New Jersey Youth Summer Employment Pilot Program," hereinafter, the pilot program. The purposes of the pilot program is to link underserved youth and young adults with summer employment opportunities. The pilot program shall:
a. Operate in the city of Elizabeth for a period of at least three years;
b. Develop and implement a summer employment program to narrow the summer employment gap among underserved youth and young adults, and to address the overall disparities in job attainment;
c. Provide incentives to employers to hire local underserved youth and young adults participating in the pilot program;
d. Provide underserved youth and young adults mentorship and sustainable opportunities for long-term employment year-round;
e. Consult with the city of Elizabeth, the county of Union, and the Elizabeth Development Company in developing and implementing the pilot program;
f. Identify other private, public, and nonprofit partners that may help in developing and implementing the pilot program;
g. Identify local underserved youth and young adults that may participate in the pilot program; and
h. Provide incentives to underserved youth and young adults to participate in the pilot program.
2. The department shall work with representatives of the city of Elizabeth, the county of Union, and the Elizabeth Development Company to identify and recruit appropriate and qualified persons to develop and implement the pilot program. The department, in consultation with representatives of the city of Elizabeth, the county of Union, and the Elizabeth Development Company, shall employ, prescribe the duties, and fix and pay the compensation of such persons it deems necessary to develop and implement the pilot program within the limits of the appropriation provided in section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. No later than four years after the pilot program is established and becomes effective, the department shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a written report containing information on the implementation of the pilot program, including a recommendation on the feasibility and desirability of implementing the program on a Statewide basis.
4. The State's limitations on hours of employment for child labor shall govern the maximum hours of employment for youths employed through the pilot program. For employment resulting from participation in the pilot program, the youth shall receive from the employer compensation of not less than the minimum wage rate pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4).
5. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the sum of $1,000,000 for the costs associated with developing and implementing the pilot program. Of the amount appropriated herein, a sum not to exceed $100,000 shall be allocated to the department for costs associated with the administration of the pilot program, subject to approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a "New Jersey Youth Summer Employment Pilot Program" (pilot program) in the city of Elizabeth for a period of at least three years.
The bill requires the pilot program to:
1. Operate in the city of Elizabeth;
2. Develop and implement a summer employment program to narrow the summer employment gap among underserved youth and young adults, and to address the overall disparities in job attainment;
3. Provide incentives to employers to hire local underserved youth and young adults participating in the pilot program;
4. Provide underserved youth and young adults mentorship and sustainable opportunities for long-term employment year-round;
5. Consult with the city of Elizabeth, the county of Union, and the Elizabeth Development Company in developing and implementing the pilot program;
6. Identify other private, public, and nonprofit partners that may help in developing and implementing the pilot program;
7. Identify local underserved youth and young adults that may participate in the pilot program; and
8. Provide incentives to underserved youth and young adults to participate in the pilot program.
The bill requires the department, four years after the establishment of the pilot program, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature containing information on the implementation of the pilot program, including a recommendation on the feasibility and desirability of implementing the program on a Statewide basis.
The bill also requires that youth participants in the pilot program earn compensation from employers at a rate not less than the State minimum wage.
Finally, the bill appropriates $1,000,000 for costs associated with developing and implementing the pilot program. Of the amount appropriated, no more than $100,000 may be allocated to the department for costs associated with the administration of the pilot program.
