SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 3414

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  FEBRUARY 11, 2021

 

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably, with committee amendments, Senate Bill No. 3414.

      This bill promotes workforce diversity in public works projects by permitting any public entity which includes a project labor agreement (PLA) in a contract for a public works project to include, as part of the PLA, provisions to provide on-the-job or off-the-job outreach and training programs for minority group members, members of disadvantaged communities, and women, which may include programs to provide incentives for, or otherwise facilitate, the hiring, training, and employment of minority group members, members of disadvantaged communities, and women, including employment of local residents.

      This bill also expands the permissible use of PLAs beyond contracts for building-based public works projects, thus allowing PLAs to be used for highway, bridge, pumping station, water, and sewage treatment plant projects.

      The committee amendments are technical.