Bill Text: NJ A4138 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes workforce training program for underemployed individuals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [A4138 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4138-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SAMUEL L. FIOCCHI
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes workforce training program for underemployed individuals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning workforce training for underemployed individuals, amending P.L.1983, c.470, and amending and supplementing P.L.1992, c.43.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-9) is amended to read as follows:
9. a. A restricted, nonlapsing, revolving Workforce Development Partnership Fund, to be managed and invested by the State Treasurer, is hereby established to: provide employment and training services to qualified displaced, disadvantaged and employed workers by means of training grants or customized training services; provide for the other costs indicated in subsection a. of section 4 of this act; and facilitate the provision of education and training to youth by means of grants provided by the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1993, c.268 (C.34:15E-1 et al.). All appropriations to the fund, all interest accumulated on balances in the fund and all cash received for the fund from any other source shall be used solely for the purposes specifically delineated by this act.
b. During any fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2001, of the total revenues dedicated to the program during any one fiscal year: 25% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved to provide employment and training services for qualified displaced workers; 6% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved to provide employment and training services for qualified disadvantaged workers; 45% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved for and appropriated to the Office of Customized Training, and for the purposes of providing the training and education program for underemployed individuals pursuant to section 3 of P.L. c. , (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); 3% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved for occupational safety and health training; 5% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved for the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership created pursuant to P.L.1993, c.268 (C.34:15E-1 et seq.); 10% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved for administrative costs as defined in section 3 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-3); 0.5% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund reserved for the State Employment and Training Commission to design criteria and conduct an annual evaluation of the program; and 5.5% shall be deposited in an account of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to be used, at the discretion of the commissioner, for any of the purposes indicated in subsection a. of section 4 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-4).
c. Beginning January 1, 1995, through June 30, 2002, the balance in the fund as of the previous December 31, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, shall not exceed 1.5 times the amount of contributions deposited for the calendar year then ended. If the balance exceeds this amount, the excess shall be deposited into the unemployment compensation fund within seven business days of the date that the determination is made.
d. Beginning July 1, 2002, and for any subsequent fiscal year, if the unexpended cash balance in any of the accounts indicated in subsection b. of this section, less any amount awarded in grants but not yet disbursed from the account, is determined to exceed 20% of the amount of contributions collected for deposit in the account pursuant to this subsection during the fiscal year then ended, the excess shall be regarded as an unemployment compensation contribution and deposited into the unemployment compensation fund within seven business days of the date that the determination is made.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.152, s.12)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1983, c.470 (C.18A:64A-23.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. Each county college shall permit a person who has been in the labor market for at least two years and is unemployed or has received a layoff notice as a result of a factory or plant closing, or is an underemployed individual as defined in, and participating in the program established pursuant to, section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to enroll without payment of tuition in a job training course, provided that the person is not eligible for any available State or federal student financial aid and that available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. Nothing herein shall preclude a county college from requiring a registration fee not to exceed $20.00 per academic term. For purposes of enrollment without payment of tuition pursuant to this section, a county college shall provide preference to a person who has been in the labor market for at least two years and is unemployed or has received a layoff notice as a result of a factory or plant closing over an underemployed individual as defined in, and participating in the program established pursuant to, section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
(cf: P.L.1992, c.45, s.4)
3. (New section) a. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish and administer a training and education program for underemployed individuals as follows:
(1) participating underemployed individuals shall be screened for career readiness and provided a plan to access the training and education needed to begin or transition to a new career;
(2) participating underemployed individuals shall be given the opportunity to enroll in training and educational instruction that is intended to result in a degree or training certificate conferred by a county college located in the State;
(3) participating underemployed individuals shall be provided access to training and education pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1983, c.470 (C.18A:64A-23.2), when available and appropriate; and
(4) participating underemployed individuals shall be provided with financial assistance deemed acceptable and necessary through rules and regulations promulgated by the department to ensure their ability to complete the training and educational instruction provided pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. The department shall establish a list of acceptable and necessary costs that will be funded through this program, pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-9), including, but not limited to: tuition for county college classes, for which there is not enough space for free placement pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1983, c.470 (C.18A:64A-23.2); books; transportation; and lab fees.
c. Funding provided for this program, pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-9), shall be used by the department to enable participating underemployed individuals to complete the degree or certificate program in which they are enrolled and costs incurred by the department to administer this program.
d. As used in this section, "underemployed individual" means an individual who is working part time but desires full time employment, or an individual who is working in employment not commensurate with the individual's demonstrated level of educational or skill achievement.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a program funded with moneys collected for customized training in the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to provide training and educational instruction to underemployed individuals. The bill defines underemployed individuals as those who work part time but desire full time employment, or who work in employment not commensurate with their demonstrated level of educational or skill achievement.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will screen underemployed individuals participating in the program for career readiness and develop and facilitate a plan to provide the training and education needed for these individuals to begin or transition to a new career. The bill also provides that each county college in the State must permit an underemployed individual who is participating in the program to enroll without payment of tuition in a job training course, provided that individual is not eligible for any available State or federal student financial aid and that available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course.
The department will ensure that underemployed individuals participating in the program are enrolled in training and educational instruction that is intended to result in a degree or training certificate conferred by county colleges located in the State. Any additional costs determined by the department to be acceptable and necessary, such as: tuition for classes or training; books; lab fees; and transportation will also be funded.
