Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman B.DeCroce
SYNOPSIS
Makes General Fund supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved , 2018 (P.L.2018, c. ).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2018, c. , there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:
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74 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 70 Government Direction, Management, and Control 74 General Government Services
GRANTS-IN-AID |
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01-2505 Office of the Secretary of State .......................................... |
$250,000 |
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Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, |
$250,000 |
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General Government Services ........................................ |
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Grants-in-Aid: |
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01 New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. .............................. |
($250,000) |
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(cf: P.L.2018, c. )
2. The following language provision is added to section 1 of P.L.2018, c. , the annual State appropriations act for fiscal year 2019:
74 DEPARTMENT OF STATE
70 Government Direction, Management, and Control
74 General Government Services
GRANTS-IN-AID
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the amount appropriated for New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. shall be used, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, for the purpose of coordinating and maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of Statewide worker training programs and to employ underserved and underemployed veterans and other State residents in need of long-term employment.
(cf: P.L.2018, c. )
3. This act shall take effect immediately but shall remain inoperative until the enactment into law of the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, P.L.2018, c. .
STATEMENT
This bill makes a General Fund supplemental appropriation of $250,000 to the Department of State for the purpose of funding the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. These monies are required to be used, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting, to coordinate and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of Statewide worker training, as well as to employ underserved and underemployed veterans and other State residents in need of long-term employment.
It is the sponsor's belief that the Legislature has made great progress in improving the State economy by supporting the State's $46 billion manufacturing industry, which creates 250,000 direct, and 1,000,000 related, jobs. The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. ("NJMEP") has contributed to this success with an 11:1 return on investment, including over 32,000 jobs added or saved. NJMEP is now the foremost nationally rated manufacturing extension program. Until the 2008 economic crisis, NJMEP was funded like most State MEPs: one-third federal funds, one-third State funds, and one-third MEP self-generated funds. NJMEP is working with manufacturers to efficiently and effectively identify and train workers to fill over 33,000 unfilled manufacturer jobs.
The sponsor further recognizes that NJMEP has an opportunity to receive an additional $250,000 in federal matching funds, to be used to support entry-level training programs that will provide credentials to all State residents, with a focus on the underserved, veterans, under-employed, and re-entry workers in diverse areas of State manufacturing. Furthermore, the $250,000 in State funds afforded by this supplemental appropriation will guarantee that NJMEP will have $500,000 in additional funds to fill job vacancies. NJMEP's proven 11:1 return on investment indicates that the funds will help secure the State's efforts to grow jobs in underserved communities and to keep companies located in, and hiring in, the State.