New Jersey § 34:11-56

§ 34:11-56.

As used in this act: “ 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, registered by the Office

of Apprenticeship of the U.S. Department of Labor. “ Approved advanced safety training for workers at high hazard facilities ” means a curriculum approved by the State Office of Apprenticeship pursuant to section

4 of this act. “ Labor organization ” means an organization which represents, for purposes of collective bargaining, employees

of contractors or subcontractors engaged in contracting subject to the provisions

of subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.2020, c. 65 ( C.34:11-56.74 ), and has the present ability to refer, provide or represent a sufficient number

of qualified employees to perform the contracted work in a manner consistent with

the provisions of P.L.2020, c. 65 ( C.34:11-56.72 et seq. ) and a plan mutually agreed upon by the labor organization and the owner or operator. “ OEM ” means original equipment manufacturer and refers to organizations who manufacture

or fabricate equipment for sale directly to purchasers or other resellers. “ Prevailing hourly wage rate ” means the prevailing hourly wage rate set for the applicable occupation and geographic

area pursuant to the “New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act,” P.L.1963, c. 150 ( C.34:11-56.25 et seq. ). “ Registered apprentice ” means an apprentice registered in an apprenticeship program who is performing work

covered by the standards of that apprenticeship program and receiving the supervision

required by the standards of that apprenticeship program. “ Skilled journeyperson ” means a worker who: a. Has either graduated from an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation,

or has at least as many hours of on-the-job experience in the applicable occupation

as would be required to graduate from an apprenticeship program for the applicable

occupation; and b. Has completed within the prior two calendar years at least 20 hours of approved

advanced safety training for workers at high hazard facilities, including approved

advanced safety training that occurred in an approved apprenticeship program. This requirement shall apply only to work performed on or after January 1, 2025. “ Skilled and trained workforce ” means a workforce that meets all of the following criteria: a. (1) All the workers shall, as of January 1, 2021, be paid at least 80 percent of

the applicable prevailing hourly wage rate, and shall be either registered apprentices

or skilled journeypersons; (2) All the workers shall, as of January 1, 2022, be paid at least 85 percent of the

applicable prevailing hourly wage rate, and shall be either registered apprentices

or skilled journeypersons; (3) All the workers shall, as of January 1, 2023, be paid at least 90 percent of the

applicable prevailing hourly wage rate, and shall be either registered apprentices

or skilled journeypersons; and (4) All the workers shall, as of January 1, 2024, be paid the applicable prevailing

hourly wage rate, and shall be either registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons. b. All the workers have, as of January 1, 2025, completed within the prior two calendar

years at least 20 hours of approved advanced safety training for workers at high hazard

facilities. c. (1) As of January 1, 2021, at least 30 percent of the skilled journeypersons shall

be graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation. (2) As of January 1, 2022, at least 40 percent of the skilled journeypersons shall

be graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation. (3) As of January 1, 2023, at least 50 percent of the skilled journeypersons shall

be graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation. (4) As of January 1, 2024, at least 60 percent of the skilled journeypersons shall

be graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation. (5) As of January 1, 2025, all of the workers shall have completed within the prior

two calendar years at least 20 hours of approved advanced safety training for workers

at high hazard facilities, except that the requirements of this subsection c. shall not apply to the extent that

the contractor requests qualified workers from a labor organization that refers or

provides qualified workers, but the organization is unable to refer or provide sufficient

qualified workers within 48 hours of the request, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

excepted, and shall not apply to the extent that compliance is impracticable because

an emergency requires immediate action to prevent harm to public health or safety

or to the environment, but the criteria shall again apply as soon as the emergency

is over or it becomes practicable for contractors to obtain a qualified workforce. “ State Office of Apprenticeship ” means the Office of Apprenticeship in the State Department of Labor and Workforce

Development. “The State Office of Apprenticeship” does not mean the Office of Apprenticeship

in the United States Department of Labor.