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Committee approves creation of AI and labor market study commission, amends definitions and funding source
Summary
The committee advanced Assembly Bill 4888 to establish an AI and labor market study commission, clarify membership, and direct initial funding from the workforce development partnership fund to job transition services. Lawmakers expressed support, while one member voted against citing a proposed employer tax.
The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee voted to amend and release Assembly Bill 4888, a measure to establish an Artificial Intelligence and Labor Market Study Commission to analyze the impacts of artificial intelligence on New Jersey’s workforce. The committee-approved amendments clarified definitions, specified that seven commission members are private citizens appointed by the commissioner, required the chairperson be a private citizen, and identified initial funding from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to a job transition fund for training services.
Sponsor Assemblyman Atkins described the bill as a forward-looking effort to ―"prepare New Jersey workforce for the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the job market." He told the committee the commission will identify jobs at risk and develop strategies to help workers transition, including a jobs transition fund to provide training, education and job placement support.
Chris HemmIhalts of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association testified in support of the bill’s intent but urged a broader framing to address other technological disruptions — citing port automation and remote work as examples — and recommended county colleges play a role in training pathways.
During roll call, Assemblyman McGuckin recorded a no vote. He explained on the record that he opposed the bill because, in his view, it would disincentivize employers by “adding an additional tax” (he referenced a 2% figure) and because existing job training programs and unemployment funds can be used to support affected workers. Other members — Assemblymen DePhillips and Miller, Assemblywoman Simmons, Assemblyman Maranko, Vice Chair Danielson and Chair Tully — voted to release the bill.
The amendments also required at least one private citizen member be drawn from a technology trade group and made other technical changes; no estimate of the total cost or a final funding appropriation was presented in the committee transcript.
