N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-1 Short title
1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Youth Transitions to Work Partnership Act." L.1993,c.268,s.1.
N.J. Stat. tit. 34, ch. 15E
N.J. Stat. tit. 34, ch. 15E
in effectN.J. Stat. § 34:15E-2 Findings, declarations
2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. To succeed in the face of intensely competitive conditions, the economy of New Jersey requires the creation of a growing pool of highly trained, technologically sophisticated young workers, which can be achieved, in part, by providing greater opportunities and incentives for youths who in the past have not sought college education or even completed high school; b. The potential value of work-based, hands-on learning to create that growing pool has been demonstrated by the high quality of the training and education provided by existing registered apprenticeship programs; c. The benefits of apprenticeship training in creating a highly-skilled workforce, however, are limited to less than 3% of the workforce of the United States or this State, compared to more than two thirds of German workers; d. In this State, as well as in this nation, most participants do not enter apprenticeship programs until six or more years after their graduation from high school; e. Education and training for careers in skilled trades are unattractive to many high school students and their parents, because workers in those trades are rarely provided with the opportunities for lifelong occupationally relevant learning and ongoing advancement that are commonplace in professional occupations; f. The experience of German and Japanese schools and employers clearly demonstrates that all youth need a strong educational foundation in order to have the flexibility to succeed in the face of rapid economic change and that work-based learning is a necessary supplement to, but not a substitute for, high academic standards; g. It is therefore an appropriate public purpose to establish a Youth Transitions to Work Partnership to establish new apprenticeship programs for high-wage, high-skill, labor demand occupations and link those new programs and existing apprenticeship programs with secondary schools and institutions of higher education to provide effective transitions for high school graduates into those programs, while sustaining or enhancing educational standards, and to create opportunities for lifelong occupationally relevant learning and ongoing career advancement for front-line workers, thereby motivating youth to greater success in secondary and post-secondary education. L.1993,c.268,s.2.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-3 Definitions.
3. As used in this act: "Apprenticeship Policy Committee" or "committee" means the New Jersey Apprenticeship Policy Committee which: a. Was established by a written agreement of: the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in the U.S. Department of Labor; the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and the State Department of Education; and b. Consists of: the Assistant Commissioner, State Department of Education, Division of Adult and Occupational Education; the Director of Region II of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in the U.S. Department of Labor; an assistant commissioner of the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and a representative of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. "Apprenticeship program" means a registered apprenticeship program providing to each trainee combined classroom and on-the-job training under the direct and close supervision of a highly skilled worker in an occupation recognized as an apprenticeable trade, and registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the U.S. Department of Labor and meeting the standards established by the bureau, or registered by a State apprenticeship agency recognized by the bureau. "Labor demand occupation" means an occupation for which there is or is likely to be an excess of demand over supply for adequately trained workers, including, but not limited to, an occupation designated as a labor demand occupation by the New Jersey Occupational Information Coordinating Committee pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:1A-78). "Youth Transitions to Work Partnership" or "Partnership" means the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership established pursuant to section 4 of this act. L.1993, c.268, s.3; amended 2007, c.39, s.15.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-4 Youth Transitions to Work Partnership established; purpose
4. a. The Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is hereby established in, but not of, the Department of Labor. Notwithstanding any appropriations that are made to the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership from the revenues collected pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1992, c.44 (C.34:15D-13), the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is separate from the Workforce Development Partnership Program and not subject to the requirements of P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-1 et al.). b. The purpose of the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is to facilitate effective transitions by youths to high-skill, high-wage employment in labor demand occupations with long-term career potential and opportunities for occupationally relevant lifelong learning, and thereby motivate youth to greater success in secondary and post-secondary education. To implement that purpose, the partnership shall provide consortia of businesses, business organizations, labor organizations and educational institutions with: (1) Grants pursuant to section 5 of this act for the establishment of new apprenticeship programs in occupations or industries which do not currently have apprenticeship programs in this State; and (2) Grants pursuant to sections 6 and 7 of this act to establish new programs to link education and higher education to either existing apprenticeship programs or new apprenticeship programs established pursuant to section 5 of this act. c. All training, education or other services provided pursuant to this act shall be for careers in occupations which are labor demand occupations and have an average level of pay in the State which exceeds 80% of the average level of pay for all workers in the State or shall be in connection with an apprenticeship program in which the average level of pay upon completion of the program exceeds 80% of the average level of pay for all workers in the State. d. Funds available in connection with the partnership shall not be used for activities which: (1) Induce, encourage or assist: any displacement of currently employed workers by trainees, including partial displacement by means such as reduced hours of currently employed workers; any replacement of laid off workers by trainees; or any relocation of operations resulting in a loss of employment at a previous workplace; (2) Replace, supplant, compete with or duplicate in any way existing approved apprenticeship programs; or (3) Impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements, except that activities which would be inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement may be undertaken with the written concurrence of the collective bargaining unit and employer who are parties to the agreement. e. Any business which has an individual working for it under a program established under a grant provided by the partnership shall be responsible for providing workers' compensation coverage for the individual. L.1993,c.268,s.4; amended 1994,c.73,s.2.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-5 Grant eligibility
5. a. To be eligible for a grant from the partnership, a consortium shall include: (1) Each employer that employs apprentices in connection with the grant or participates in developing or providing linkage services pursuant to section 6 of this act; (2) Each educational institution that provides classroom training or education to the apprentices or participates in developing or providing linkage services pursuant to section 6 or 7 of this act; and (3) Any labor organization which represents workers employed by a participating employer. b. The consortium may also include: (1) Any business or trade organization representing the employer; and (2) Any labor organization which represents workers in the occupation for which the apprentices will be trained. c. Each consortium applying for a grant from the partnership shall submit an application to the committee in a form and manner prescribed by the committee. Each application from a consortium shall describe how each participant in the consortium will carry out its responsibilities in establishing a permanent apprenticeship program, including the role of each employer, educational institution and, where applicable, labor organization, in developing curriculum and occupation skill standards, the role of each employer in providing skilled workers as job coaches and mentors for apprentices and the role of each participant in establishing and operating related linkage programs pursuant to section 6 or 7 of this act. The application shall include a comprehensive long-term human resource development plan from each participating employer and a commitment from participating employers to continue participation in the apprenticeship program on a long-term basis significantly beyond the term of the grant. d. Each member of the committee and each member of the council may direct or request the department or agency that member represents on the committee or council to provide whatever technical assistance the member deems appropriate in the preparation of an application by a consortium. e. Each business, business organization, labor organization and educational institution included in a consortium applying for a grant shall be permitted to participate in planning for the use of grant moneys. No grant moneys shall be provided to a business employing workers represented by a labor organization without the written consent of both the business and the collective bargaining unit and, where no labor organization represents the employees, no grant shall be provided without the written consent of both the business and a labor organization, if any exists, which represents workers in the occupation for which the apprentices will be trained. f. Grants awarded pursuant to this section or section 6 or 7 of this act shall be awarded by the committee, in consultation with the council, based on the committee's determination of which applying consortia are most likely to successfully create permanent new apprenticeship programs in occupations or industries which do not currently have apprenticeship programs in this State or are most likely to successfully create linkage programs for new or existing apprenticeship programs in compliance with the requirements of this act. When considering applications for grants made pursuant to this section or section 6 or 7 of this act, the committee shall give priority to any applicant which made a valid application to the Department of Education for a Youth Apprenticeship grant prior to June 15, 1993. The committee, the Department of Labor and the Department of Education shall provide assistance to the applicant in making whatever modifications are necessary to bring the application into compliance with the provisions of this act. If the occupation for which training was to be provided under the Youth Apprenticeship grant application is not an occupation which currently has an apprenticeship program in this State, the committee, the Department of Labor and the Department of Education shall assist the applicant in modifying the application so that it provides for the creation of a new apprenticeship program. g. Except that a grant to establish linkage programs pursuant to sections 6 and 7 of this act for an existing apprenticeship program which shall provide funding only for the linkage programs, each grant to a consortium shall include subgrants to each of the following consortium participants that seeks a subgrant: (1) A subgrant to each participating employer to pay costs to the employer during the term of the grant related to the establishment or operation of the apprenticeship program and any associated linkage program established pursuant to sections 6 and 7 of this act, except for the wages of apprentices or student learners, which shall be paid entirely by the employer. The costs paid by the subgrant may include, but are not limited to: employer costs of developing curriculum and occupation skill standards; employer costs of providing skilled workers as job coaches and mentors or other employer-sponsored services for apprentices or student learners, including tuition for classes at the option of the employer when not available from other sources; and other employer costs in establishing and operating related linkage programs pursuant to section 6 or 7 of this act, including any employer involvement in counseling and recruitment efforts. These subgrants shall be administered by the committee and shall be financed by moneys appropriated to the partnership pursuant to this act. A subgrant may also be provided pursuant to this paragraph to a participating labor organization which incurs costs related to the grant; (2) A subgrant to each participating educational institution providing classroom training and education for apprentices under the grant to pay costs to the institution during the term of the grant related to the establishment or operation of the apprenticeship program, which may include, but are not limited to, staff and staff development costs, costs of developing curriculum and occupational skill standards, costs of child care for apprentices who are parents, and costs related to increased responsibilities for apprenticeship coordinators when not available from other sources. These subgrants shall be financed by moneys appropriated to the partnership pursuant to this act and shall be administered by the committee in consultation with the Chancellor of Higher Education, and the committee is authorized to require such matching funds from the institution as the committee deems appropriate; (3) A subgrant to each educational institution which participates in developing or operating any linkage program established pursuant to section 6 of this act to pay costs to the institution during the term of the grant related to the linkage program which may include, but are not limited to, staff and staff development costs, costs of developing curriculum and occupational skill standards, costs of child care for student learners or apprentices who are parents, and costs related to increased responsibilities for apprenticeship coordinators when not available from other sources. These subgrants shall be financed by moneys appropriated to the partnership pursuant to this act and shall be administered by the committee, which is authorized to require such matching funds from the institution as the committee deems appropriate; and (4) A subgrant to each educational institution which participates in developing or operating any linkage program established pursuant to section 7 of this act to pay costs to the institution during the term of the grant related to the linkage program. These subgrants shall be financed by moneys appropriated to the partnership pursuant to this act and shall be administered by the committee in consultation with the Chancellor of Higher Education, and the committee is authorized to require such matching funds from the institution as the committee deems appropriate. L.1993,c.268,s.5.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-6 School-to-apprenticeship linkage program, establishment.
6. a. Each consortium which is awarded a grant from the partnership shall establish a pre-apprenticeship, or school-to-apprenticeship linkage program, for high school students, which shall include the development of the curriculum which will best prepare students to qualify for apprenticeships established under the grant, thus encouraging high school completion and increasing graduation rates. Grants may also be provided to a consortium pursuant to this section to create new pre-apprenticeship, or linkage, programs for existing apprenticeship programs. The pre-apprenticeship, or linkage program may include workplace experience, but not in violation of applicable child labor standards, and shall not involve any reduction of the classroom time of a participating student or of academic standards, other than reductions in classroom time mutually agreed to by all of the entities participating in the consortium pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of P.L.1993, c.268 (C.34:15E-5). The provisions of this section shall not be construed as prohibiting nontraditional scheduling of classroom time. If the pre-apprenticeship, or school-to-apprenticeship linkage, program includes a workplace experience component: (1) The student shall be regarded as a student learner entitled to all of the benefits and services provided to student learners pursuant to P.L.1993, c.268 (C.34:15E-1 et seq.); (2) The workplace experience component of the student learner shall be regarded as a cooperative vocational experience subject to all applicable standards promulgated by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development for cooperative vocational experiences, including requirements that work is under the direct supervision of a qualified person, and that the student learner be provided an individualized training plan outlining the tasks to be performed and the progression of learning experiences, and the safety instruction and occupational competencies to be learned; and (3) Employers participating in the consortium who hire student learners shall do so based on recommendations of the students' educational institutions which give consideration to the overall academic achievement of the students. To the greatest extent permitted by federal law, a participating employer shall also consider the overall academic achievement of students when selecting apprentices under the grant. b. Each pre-apprenticeship, or school-to-apprenticeship, linkage program shall include counseling, recruitment, training in life skills, including communication, working in teams, and meeting employer expectations, training in needed basic math and literacy skills, including one-to-one tutoring, and supportive services, including child care for student learners who are parents and transportation assistance, and other services as are needed to maximize program participation by women, minority-group members, and individuals with disabilities, who are economically disadvantaged individuals, have barriers to employment, or both. The objectives of these services shall include increasing the success of women in nontraditional employment and encouraging greater academic achievement among at-risk and other students. c. Employers and other participants in a consortium, when selecting applicants to participate in their apprenticeship programs, shall give first priority to applicants who have successfully completed the pre-apprenticeship programs and have met all other requirements for entering the apprenticeship programs. d. Each grant awarded to a consortium shall provide that not less than 25% of the grant funds be used for a pre-apprenticeship, or school-to-apprenticeship, linkage program established pursuant to this section. L.1993,c.268,s.6; 2022, c.89, s.1.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-7 Program link to post-secondary education options established
7. Each consortium which is awarded a grant from the partnership shall establish a program which provides the option of linkages from apprenticeship to subsequent post-secondary education. Grants may also be provided to consortiums pursuant to this section to create new linkage programs for existing apprenticeship programs. Each participating educational institution in a consortium which is awarded a grant shall develop or modify the classroom curriculum for apprentices to make the classroom training applicable toward associate and baccalaureate degrees. In addition, participating educational institutions shall develop, to the extent feasible, articulation in post-secondary programs which provides participating apprentices with options to progress from apprenticeable trades to professional occupations. The purpose of the program is to enhance the prestige of education for skilled technical work by providing front-line workers with opportunities for lifelong vocationally-relevant learning and advancement. L.1993,c.268,s.7.
N.J. Stat. § 34:15E-7.1 Guidelines to encourage high school students to participate in apprenticeship training.
1. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall develop guidelines for use by high school counselors to coordinate services with representatives of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council for purposes of encouraging student participation in apprenticeships and raising awareness of apprenticeship opportunities. The Commissioner of Education shall make the guidelines available on the Department of Education's website and shall update the information annually. L.2019, c.96.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026