This bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey to fund workforce readiness activities for youth aged 12 to 19. The $5 million appropriation will be distributed through competitive grants to community-based organizations and partnerships that offer out-of-school time programs, such as after-school or summer activities. These programs aim to provide education and training that help young people develop the skills needed for employment while also engaging local employers in addressing workforce needs. The legislation defines eligible partners as nonprofit groups with proven expertise in career pathways and data tracking to measure student progress.
This bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to create a program that helps businesses understand and adopt employee ownership models, such as worker cooperatives or stock ownership plans. To support this goal, the program will offer funding for feasibility studies, provide expert consulting advice, and publish educational resources online for both employers and employees. Eligible businesses must be located in New Jersey, have at least 20 full-time employees, and maintain good standing with state agencies to receive these services. Additionally, the authority will partner with educational institutions to offer early-stage technical assistance to smaller companies that may not yet be ready for a transition.
This bill increases the amount of paid leave available to public employees in New Jersey who serve in the United States Reserves or National Guard. Under the new provisions, these employees would receive up to 90 work days of paid leave for federal active duty, an increase from the current limit of 30 days. Any time served beyond the 90-day cap would remain unpaid but would not count against the employee's accrued time off. The change applies to full-time or permanent officers and employees across state, county, and municipal agencies.
This New Jersey bill directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to find and list jobs with few entry barriers for people returning to the workforce after imprisonment. The department must post these opportunities on its website and collect quarterly reports from reentry programs about employment partnerships and data. The law aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals find work by providing a centralized resource for available positions.
This bill expands legal protections for individuals who report sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination by extending anti-SLAPP laws to cover these specific complaints. It allows courts to pause or "stay" related lawsuits and limit discovery requests when a person makes a good-faith report about such incidents, helping to prevent retaliatory legal actions. The changes apply to private individuals and entities but exclude cases involving government officials or businesses selling goods and services. By amending existing statutes, the legislation aims to ensure that victims can report abuse without fear of being silenced through costly legal battles.
This bill creates the New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection, the program offers loans for capital purchases, employee training, and new hires aimed at improving indoor air quality. To ensure quality, any work funded by the program must be performed by organizations certified by specific industry bureaus, and businesses that receive grants may apply for a state certification based on a successful inspection. The authority sets the interest rates and terms for these loans while requiring applicants to prove their eligibility as small businesses.
This bill allows retired municipal code officials in New Jersey to return to part-time work without losing their retirement benefits or needing to rejoin the pension system. Specifically, it permits these officials to resume employment as long as they wait at least 90 days after retiring, have reached the required service retirement age, and work no more than 20 hours per week. The legislation creates an exception to the usual rules that would otherwise cancel retirement allowances and require pension re-enrollment upon returning to work. This change directly affects retired code officials who wish to take on limited part-time roles while maintaining their existing pension status.
This bill creates the Employment First Commission within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to improve job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The commission will consist of 17 members, including state officials and representatives from disability advocacy groups, who will work to analyze data and provide input on employment policies. Its main duties include gathering information on service needs, coordinating efforts across different state agencies, and developing a dedicated webpage to share employment resources. The commission will meet regularly to ensure that competitive, integrated employment remains a priority in public services for people with disabilities.
This bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey that helps working families pay for child care by splitting the cost three ways between the employer, the employee, and the state. Using $15 million in state funding, the program covers one-third of eligible child care expenses for approved participants who work for participating employers and do not already receive subsidized care. To manage the initiative, the state will select local partnerships in different regions to handle applications and distribute funds, with priority given to low- or moderate-income workers, essential employees, and public sector staff. The legislation also ensures that joining the program does not reduce any existing child care benefits an employer already provides.
This New Jersey bill creates a tax credit program for businesses that hire workers under the age of 18. The measure is designed to help employers offset increased costs associated with recent minimum wage laws by reimbursing them for the difference between current required wages and what was previously paid. Eligible companies can apply for these credits against their state business or income taxes for tax years before January 1, 2032, and 2034. The amount of the credit is calculated based on the specific wage increases mandated by law compared to prior payments for those young employees.
