“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.

L.2020, c.65, s.2.