The Department of Labor and Industry is directed to undertake a study as to the best means of providing encouragement and assistance to the formulation of employee stock ownership plans providing for the partial or total acquisition, through purchase, distribution in lieu of compensation or a combination of these or any other lawful means, of shares of stock or other instruments of equity in facilities by persons employed at these facilities in cases in which operations at these facilities would, absent employee equity ownership, be terminated, relocated outside of the State, or so reduced in volume as to entail the permanent layoff of a substantial number of the employees.

L.1981, c. 82, s. 3, eff. March 25, 1981.