This bill establishes the New Jersey Automation Job Loss Prevention Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to address job losses resulting from automation. The program will be funded through a dedicated portion of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund, which will allocate 2% of its revenues specifically for this initiative. The DOLWD, in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Secretary of Higher Education, will develop job training and career development programs aimed at connecting employers with workers whose jobs are at risk due to automation. These programs will be hosted by employers or educational institutions and will focus on providing specialized training to prepare affected employees for immediate employment.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the DOLWD identify jobs that have been or are at risk of being lost due to automation and share this information with the program. The job training initiatives will also include wrap-around services such as transportation, child care, and mental health support to encourage participation. An evaluation of the program's effectiveness will be conducted five years after the first training program is approved, ensuring that the initiative meets its goals of promoting business growth, employment, and preventing unemployment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:15D-9