ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 195

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 22, 2021

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 195.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (commissioner), in consultation with the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, to conduct a study on the economic impacts of artificial intelligence on the State’s economy concerning professions requiring a highly-skilled and highly-educated workforce. Following the completion of the study, the commissioner is to prepare and submit, within one year of the effective date of the bill, a written report concerning the study to the Governor, the Legislature, the chairperson of the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, and the chairperson of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, or their successor committees.

      The written report is to include the predicted impact of artificial intelligence on the market for professions requiring a highly-skilled and highly-educated workforce and other professions requiring a post-graduate education, which jobs will be most impacted by this expansion, the educational implications of these findings, and any new professions that may come into being as a result of this expansion.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that the study is to focus on the impact on the State’s economy.