A1431

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Giblin, S.Kean, DiMaio, Freiman, DePhillips, Chiaravalloti, Houghtaling and Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

Provides assistance to manufacturing businesses by having certain State agencies promote economic development and identify credentials needed for careers in modern manufacturing.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning State assistance to manufacturing businesses and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1. a. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, the Business Action Center in the Department of State, the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, and representatives of business and industry, shall establish and maintain a State-recognized list of industry-recognized credentials in the advanced manufacturing field to assist county vocational school districts, institutions of higher education, and the workforce development system in developing appropriate educational programs to enable students to more adequately meet the advanced technical training needs in this field.

b. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, the Business Action Center in the Department of State, the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, and representatives of business and industry, shall identify courses of study for careers in emerging manufacturing industries, including careers in industrial marketing, mechanical engineering, computer science, electronics, and mechatronics.

2. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall designate an employee of the Department of State to act as a liaison between the State and manufacturing businesses located in this State. The duties of the liaison shall be to assist manufacturing businesses by:

a. advertising manufacturing businesses’ products or services nationally and internationally through the Business Action Center in the Department of State; and

b. establishing a business referral service where manufacturing businesses may be referred to other State, federal, or private business resource organizations, such as the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, the State’s Small Business Development Centers, and other business organizations that provide specialized business development assistance, technology information, consulting management, and customized one-to-one counseling concerning business plans and technical assistance with significant business topics and issues.

3. a. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and other State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities, shall direct resources, create incentives, and provide technological, financial, and workforce development opportunities for manufacturing businesses.

b. The Secretary of State may call upon any department, authority, commission, board, office, division, or agency of the State to provide any information, resources, or other assistance deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). This may include, but not be limited to: the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for assistance with manufacturing business funding assistance programs; the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for assistance with developing workforce development strategies for manufacturing businesses; the Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Transit Corporation for assistance with enhancing public transportation operations for employees of manufacturing businesses; the Business Action Center in the Department of State for assistance with manufacturing business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts and advising on smart growth development strategies; and the Department of Community Affairs for assistance to manufacturing businesses participating in the urban enterprise zone program established by P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-60 et al.).

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education and representatives of the manufacturing industry, to establish and maintain a State-recognized list of industry-recognized credentials in the advanced manufacturing field. The list of these credentials will in turn assist county vocational school districts, institutions of higher education, and the workforce development system in developing appropriate educational programs to train the personnel necessary to meet the advancing needs of manufacturers in the State. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with representatives of business and industry, to identify courses of study for careers in emerging manufacturing industries, including careers in industrial marketing, mechanical engineering, computer science, electronics, and mechatronics.

The bill requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to designate an employee of the Department of State to act as a liaison between the State and manufacturing businesses located in this State. The duties of the liaison are to assist manufacturing businesses by: 1) advertising manufacturing businesses’ products or services nationally and internationally through the Business Action Center (center) in the Department of State; and 2) establishing a business referral service where manufacturing businesses may be referred to other State, federal, or private business resource organizations. The Secretary of State is to work with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and other State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities, to direct resources, create incentives, and provide technological, financial, and workforce development opportunities for manufacturing businesses.