Bill > A5054

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish an "Entry-Level Driver Training Grant Program." Commercial motor vehicle drivers are a vital and growing part of New Jersey's economy, with an estimated 44,800 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the State as of May 2021. The costs associated with meeting federal and state requirements remain a barrier to entry for many who wish to obtain a commercial driver license, or CDL. On February 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began implementing new Entry-Level Driver Training regulations that entry-level drivers must complete before being permitted to take certain CDL skills or knowledge tests. These additional requirements place further burdens on new commercial motor vehicle drivers. By implementing a reimbursement program, the State will encourage employers to pay for their employees' Entry-Level Driver Training and remove the burden from the drivers. This bill also allocates sufficient monies received by the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, and "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)," Pub.L.113-128, to fund this program.

AI Summary

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Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee (on 01/12/2023)

Official Document