ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5213

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 10, 2025

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5213.

      This bill establishes the “New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program” (“system”) to strengthen the strategic alignment and collaboration between the operations of local workforce development boards and community colleges. 

      Under the bill, to establish the system, the State Employment and Training Commission is to initiate a pilot program in three local areas to strengthen strategic alignment and collaboration between the operations of local workforce development boards and community colleges.  The pilot program is to include:

      (1)  joint development and implementation of workforce training programs with an emphasis on industry-recognized credentials;

      (2)  collaborative efforts for branding, outreach, and marketing to increase awareness of available training and career services;

      (3)  integrated planning and coordination of funding resources to maximize the impact of State and federal support for workforce development; and

      (4)  performance evaluation based on appropriate metrics aligned with State and federal workforce development programs to assess participant outcomes, program effectiveness and other measures as required under federal law and applicable State laws

      Further, the commission, in consultation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, is required pursuant to the bill to develop a strategy for strengthening Statewide alignment and collaboration between local workforce development boards and community colleges.  The strategy is to include a guideline for scaling the pilot program to other areas throughout the State, recommendations for changes needed to facilitate strategic alignment and collaboration, and an implementation timeline and resource plan for stronger Statewide strategic alignment and collaboration.  The commission is required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program and the implementation of the system.

      Finally, the bill designates community colleges as the preferred provider of postsecondary education, workforce training, and adult literacy programs for State workforce development services.