S 1381 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires DOLWD to identify and recruit unemployed individuals for employment in healthcare facilities, home care services, and hospice services; makes appropriation.*

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a program identifying and recruiting unemployed residents for healthcare jobs. It mandates that DOLWD evaluate whether training is practical for specific roles, considers job proximity and transportation options, and assesses barriers preventing immediate employment. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the state general fund to fund training programs and support resources for eligible individuals, leveraging existing DOLWD initiatives. The program would directly affect unemployed New Jersey residents seeking healthcare employment, but the bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 2, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded to cover not only healthcare facilities but also home care services and hospice services, broadening the types of employment opportunities unemployed individuals can be recruited for. A co-sponsor (Senator Henry) was added, and the bill moved from introduced status to as-reported by the Senate Labor Committee on March 2, 2026.

SCOPE

The program now covers recruitment of unemployed individuals for work in healthcare facilities, home care services, and hospice services, rather than only healthcare facilities. This appears in the synopsis, act title, and Section 1(a).

TECHNICAL

Senator Henry was added as a co-sponsor alongside Senator Cryan.

The bill status changed from 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel' to 'As reported by the Senate Labor Committee on March 2, 2026, with amendments.'

The explanatory statement section at the end of the bill was removed.

'general fund' was changed to 'General Fund' (capitalization correction).

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors