ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5211

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 10, 2025

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5211.

      This bill establishes the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act, which codifies the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development’s New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative.

      Pursuant to the bill, the purpose of the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative is to:

· provide students, workers, and job seekers with the career pathways they need to pursue promising new careers and opportunities;

· strengthen career pathways partnerships between county colleges and employers, primary and secondary schools, vocational technical high schools, four-year institutions of higher education, unions, and community based organizations; and

· ensure that employers have access to a highly skilled workforce to meet critical labor market needs. 

      The bill permits the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to establish Centers of Workforce Innovation that offer career pathways in various areas.  The bill directs the Centers of Workforce Innovation to develop curriculum specific to each career pathway that is to be made publicly available, provide students with instruction and skills necessary to gain employment in a career pathway, promote the use of the Community College Opportunity Grants, promote the expansion of apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities for students, and to collaborate with industry leaders and educational partners across the State.