Merit Institute Merit

The New Jersey Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (NJ-AI-Workforce)

New Jersey state companion to AI Workforce. Labor-protective training credits and EDA matching grants. Builds on N.J.S.A. Title 14A and Title 42 (business entities), N.J.S.A. 54A and 54:10A credits, EDA, and sandbox authorities.

THE NEW JERSEY PRO-WORKER AI WORKFORCE ACT (NJ-AI-WORKFORCE)

Vehicle: State passage. New Jersey Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Assembly / Senate Commerce / Budget and Appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “New Jersey Pro-Worker AI Workforce Act (NJ-AI-Workforce).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that New Jersey business entities are governed by N.J.S.A. Title 14A (Business Corporation Act) and Title 42 (LLCs); that N.J.S.A. 54A and 54:10A provide tax credits including the Grow NJ program; that the Economic Development Authority operates under N.J.S.A. 34:1B; that N.J.S.A. 17 provides financial-services regulation; and that N.J.S.A. 34:11 and 10:5 protections apply. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEW JERSEY LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Qualified NJ AI Workforce Training” means training toward an NJRMC or Federal FRAC in AI fields.
  2. (b) “New Jersey Innovation Sandbox” means a regulatory sandbox under Title III.
  3. (c) “Qualified small business” has the meaning given in N.J.S.A. Title 14A or Title 42.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing New Jersey Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • N.J.S.A. Title 14A; Title 42.
  • N.J.S.A. 54A; 54:10A.
  • N.J.S.A. 34:1B (EDA).
  • N.J.S.A. 17.

TITLE II — NEW JERSEY AI WORKFORCE TRAINING CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 201. Training Credit and EDA Matching Grant

  1. (a) A new credit is added to N.J.S.A. 54A and 54:10A for qualified AI workforce training expenditures, modeled on the Emerge framework.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with N.J.S.A. 34:11 and 10:5; priority to employers with a labor-management partnership.
  3. (c) A parallel matching grant program is authorized at EDA under N.J.S.A. 34:1B.
  4. (d) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45BB; aggregate cap.
  5. (e) Division of Taxation and EDA jointly administer.

TITLE III — NEW JERSEY INNOVATION SANDBOX

Sec. 301. Establishment of the New Jersey Innovation Sandbox

  1. (a) A New Jersey Innovation Sandbox is established within EDA, covering occupational-licensure activities under N.J.S.A. Title 45 and financial-product innovation under N.J.S.A. Title 17.
  2. (b) Twenty-four-month terms; renewable.

Sec. 302. Scope

  1. (a) Covers state-licensed activities and financial activities to the extent not preempted.

TITLE IV — SMALL-BUSINESS FORMATION

Sec. 401. Expedited Formation Pathway

  1. (a) The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services shall implement an expedited formation pathway for N.J.S.A. Title 14A and Title 42 entities within 24 hours.

Sec. 402. Single-Portal Licensing

  1. (a) Business.NJ.gov shall operate a single-portal licensing system for state-level occupational licenses under N.J.S.A. Title 45.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: AI Workforce. Other New Jersey bills: NJ-ACSA, NJ-MEWRA, NJ-GT&P.