Bill Text: NJ A2005 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires adult Work First New Jersey recipients to complete secondary education under certain circumstances and receive life skills training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [A2005 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2005-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires adult Work First New Jersey recipients to complete secondary education under certain circumstances and receive life skills training.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning education and training under the Work First New Jersey program and supplementing P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the Commissioner of Human Services shall require that an adult recipient of benefits under the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency, complete a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence during the recipient's first 24 months of eligibility for benefits, if the commissioner determines, based upon an assessment of the recipient's ability and aptitude, that the recipient has a reasonable prospect of being able to successfully complete such a course of study.
b. The Work First New Jersey program shall be responsible for ensuring the availability of appropriate child care for the dependent child of an adult recipient to the extent necessary for that recipient to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.
c. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education, shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of this section.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to ensure that the Work First New Jersey program provides life skills training as a required preparation for employment for all program recipients in accordance with standards adopted by the commissioner, except that a recipient who demonstrates a satisfactory command of life skills as prescribed by regulation of the commissioner shall be exempted from this requirement.
As used in this section, "life skills training" includes, but is not limited to: training in basic job preparation skills and in basic parenting skills; and the provision of information and specific instruction about the responsibilities associated with, and the consequences of, having a child.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires an adult recipient of benefits under the Work First New Jersey program who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency, to complete a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence during the recipient's first 24 months of eligibility for benefits if the Commissioner of Human Services determines, based upon an assessment of the recipient's ability and aptitude, that the recipient has a reasonable prospect of being able to successfully complete such a course of study.
The bill also requires that the Work First New Jersey program be responsible for ensuring the availability of appropriate child care for the dependent child of an adult recipient to the extent necessary for that recipient to comply with the requirement for attaining a certificate of general equivalence.
In addition, the bill directs the Commissioner of Human Services to adopt regulations to ensure that the Work First New Jersey program provides life skills training as a required preparation for employment for all program recipients in accordance with standards adopted by the commissioner, except that a recipient who demonstrates a satisfactory command of life skills as prescribed by regulation of the commissioner shall be exempted from this requirement. The bill defines "life skills training" to include, but not be limited to: training in basic job preparation skills and in basic parenting skills; and the provision of information and specific instruction about the responsibilities associated with, and the consequences of, having a child.
