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Committee releases bill to set minimum qualifications for public‑works employees after industry objections
Summary
A4124, which sets minimum qualifications for persons employed on public‑works contracts and specifies apprenticeship certification rules for journeymen, was released as amended. Small‑business groups and trade associations raised concerns about paperwork, verification (tax filings) and the need to reference U.S. Department of Labor‑accredited apprenticeship standards.
The Assembly State and Local Government Committee voted to release A4124 as amended; the bill establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contracts and specifies that certifications must be for journeymen who graduated from apprenticeship programs.
Eileen Keene, speaking for NFIB and the New Jersey Electronic Life Safety Association, opposed the bill in its current form. She said the bill would add paperwork burdens for small contractors and criticized language that would require verification of four years of work by taxing records. Keene urged that apprenticeship definitions reference programs accredited and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, language she said was included in an earlier draft but is missing from the current version.
Elyssa Frank of NJBIA reiterated those concerns and warned mandatory educational or apprenticeship criteria could shrink the available labor pool, prolong projects and raise costs for taxpayers. She asked for amendments to allow equivalent on‑the‑job experience and to remove or soften tax‑filing verification requirements. Keene also noted a successful industry apprenticeship program that this fall enrolled 14 young people in the New Jersey Electronic Life Safety Association's program.
Committee action: After hearing organizational positions and requests for amendments, the committee moved to release the bill as amended. Recorded votes: Assemblywoman Swift — No; Assemblyman Simonson — Yes (asked for further amendments); Assemblywoman Drulis — Yes; Assemblyman Schnall — Yes; Vice Chairwoman Sween — Yes; Chairman Karabeincik — Yes.
What’s next: The bill was released as amended and sponsors and stakeholders signaled continued negotiations to refine apprenticeship equivalencies and verification requirements before subsequent legislative steps.
