Bill > S3966

Introduced Session

This bill establishes, in the Department of State, the New Jersey Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Life Long Skills (NJSKILLS) Commission. The purpose of the commission will be to evaluate changes in labor market needs in the State and to advise State agencies of developments that are pertinent to the agencies' responsibilities. The commission will include 21 members, including the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Chief Executive Officers of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Schools Development Authority or their designee, two individuals with experience in education and economic development, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and 14 members appointed by the Governor, including: 1. one representative each of a four-year public institution of higher education, a four-year independent institution of higher education, and a county college; 2. six representatives of school districts with expertise in curriculum development, including two urban, two rural, and two suburban school districts, all of which have below average graduation rates and are in municipalities with above average unemployment rates; 3. one individual with expertise in labor economics; 4. one representative from trade associations; 5. one representative from the business community; 6. one representative of the New Jersey Council of Vocational Technical Schools; and 7. one representative of a group with above average rates of unemployment and underemployment. The appointed members would each serve a term of five years, except five of the initial appointees will serve a three-year term, five will serve a four-year term, and four will serve a five-year term. The Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is to serve as the chairperson of the board. The commission would produce an annual report providing data on trends in employment and make recommendations to the appropriate State agencies on matters including: the update and review of the core curriculum content standards; occupational areas in which there are unmet training needs; the alignment of higher education course offerings and content to labor market needs. The commission would also oversee, and make recommendations in its annual report regarding, the activities of the Center for Occupational Employment Information in carrying out its responsibilities, including the compilation of information from approved training providers as required to produce a consumer report card on each qualified school or other approved training provider, and the implementation and enforcement of a process to revoke or suspend from the State Eligible Training Provider List any of the schools or providers which fail to submit the required data.

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Teresa Ruiz (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee (on 06/16/2021)

Official Document