1. a. There shall be established in the Department of Corrections a Vocational Training Pilot Program which shall be developed and implemented by the Vocational Training Planning Board established in subsection b. of this section. The pilot program shall provide for vocational training to enhance and supplement the current vocational programming available at a State correctional facility designated by the planning board. When developing the pilot program, the planning board shall endeavor to:

(1) improve upon the facility’s most successful vocational programming offerings;

(2) introduce new vocational programming offerings to inmates of the facility; and

(3) provide vocational programming which is consistent with actual post-release employment opportunities and reflects the State’s emerging industry and business workforce needs.

b. There is established the “Vocational Training Planning Board” which shall consist of:

(1) the Commissioner of Corrections, or a designee, ex officio, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or a designee, ex officio;

(3) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, ex officio; and

(4) six public members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, one upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, one upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one selected by the Governor.

The members of the planning board shall be appointed within 60 days of the effective date of this act and the planning board shall hold its organizational meeting within 60 days of the appointment of all of its members. The public members shall serve for a term of three years from the date of their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified; except that of the members first appointed, one shall serve for a term of one year, one shall serve for a term of two years and one shall serve for a term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments were made. A member of the planning board shall be eligible for reappointment. The members of the planning board shall serve without compensation. The planning board shall be entitled to call upon the services of any State, county or municipal department, board, commission or agency, as may be available to it for these purposes.

c. The planning board shall be authorized to make recommendations to the department for changes to inmate classifications and facility use necessary to implement the pilot program at the State correctional facility designated by the board.

d. Only inmates who have more than one year but less than three years remaining to be served before their parole eligibility date shall be eligible to participate in the pilot program.

e. An inmate who is chosen by the planning board to participate in the pilot program shall be entitled to take the supplemental classes in trades, computer literacy courses, and courses for earning a high school equivalency certificate or high school diploma provided pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

f. The planning board shall annually submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1), to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the General Assembly a report detailing the progress and results of the pilot program and any recommendations on whether the program should be continued in the designated facility and whether it should be extended to other State correctional facilities.

L.2015, c.241, s.1.