Bill > A3902

Introduced Session

This bill, titled the "Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act," authorizes the issuance of $1,000,000,000 in State general obligation bonds. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to provide grants to county vocational school districts and county colleges to construct and equip education facilities in order to expand existing or offer new career and technical education programs. Proceeds from the bonds will also be used to provide grants for the costs of school facility security projects at kindergarten through grade 12 schools. The $1,000,000,000 in bond proceeds will be allocated in the following manner: (1) $450,000,000 for county vocational school district career and technical education grants; (2) $50,000,000 for county college career and technical education grants; and (3) $500,000,000 for school facility security grants. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, (in the case of county vocational school district career and technical education grants) and the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, (in the case of county college career and technical education grants) will establish procedures for the review and approval of, and eligibility criteria for, career and technical education grants. The grant applicant must demonstrate how the proposed project will: increase the capacity of the county vocational school district or the county college to offer career and technical education programs; prepare students for high demand, technically skilled careers; and align with labor market demands or economic development goals. The county vocational school district or county college must demonstrate the process by which it engaged employers to identify workforce needs. Projects that meet any of the following criteria will receive priority for career and technical education grant funding: (1) the county vocational school district or the county college offers a stackable credentials program. Such a program supports industry-recognized, short term credentials and certificates that count toward a higher-level certificate or degree, so that individuals may advance in employment and training during their careers; (2) in the case of a county vocational school district grant, the district has entered into a partnership with a county college for the provision of career and technical education programs, and in the case of a county college grant, the county college has entered into a partnership with a county vocational school district for the provision of career and technical education programs; or (3) the county vocational school district or the county college has entered into a partnership with an employer to provide technical education and training for current or potential employees. Procedures for the review and approval of, and eligibility criteria for, school facility security grants will be established by the Commissioner of Education. For any career and technical education project, the county which established the county vocational school district or county college, as applicable, must support 25% of the cost of the project. The grant provided under the bill will support the remaining 75% of the cost of the project. The commissioner or the secretary (as applicable) will prepare and submit to the presiding officers of each House of the Legislature a copy of the list of eligible projects and the amount of the grant for each project. The list will be deemed approved in its entirety unless the Legislature adopts a concurrent resolution stating that the Legislature is not in agreement with the list, within 60 days following its transmittal. The bill provides that the bond act is to be submitted to the people for approval at the general election, to be held at least 70 days after enactment, and appropriates $5,000 to the Department of State for expenses related to the publication of the public question.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  John Burzichelli (D)*,  Pam Lampitt (D)*,  Serena DiMaso (R),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Jamel Holley (D),  Eric Houghtaling (D),  Angelica Jimenez (D),  Robert Karabinchak (D),  Pedro Mejia (D),  Carol Murphy (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Parker Space (R),  Edward Thomson (R),  Harold Wirths (R), 

Substituted by S2293 (3R) (on 06/21/2018)