ASSEMBLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5752

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2021

      The Assembly Women and Children Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill 5752.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming for inmates in State correctional facilities.

      Under current law, the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, is required to establish a mandatory workforce skills training program in each State correctional facility.  This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to appoint a workforce skills training development officer to administer, enhance, and supplement these programs.

      In administering the mandatory workforce training program in each State Correctional facility, the workforce skills training development officer is required to: improve upon the facility's most successful workforce skills training program offerings, as determined by the rate of enrollment and completion of the programs; introduce new workforce skills training program offerings to inmates of the facility; and provide workforce skills training programming, to be modified as needed, which is consistent with actual post-release employment opportunities and reflects the State's emerging industry and business workforce needs. 

      As amended, the bill provides that the workforce skills training development officer is required, on a regular basis but not less than once per year, to meet with a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, and the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools in order to administer, enhance, and supplement the workforce skills training programming available at a State correctional facility.

      The provisions of the bill also require the Commissioner of Corrections to consult with the workforce skills training development officer in promulgating any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the mandatory workforce skills training program.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to include a representative of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce among the individuals the workforce skills development officer is required to meet with as part of the officer’s responsibilities outlined in the bill.