1. a. There is established in the Department of State the New Jersey Military Skills Council, which shall be comprised of the Secretary of State, the Adjutant General, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the Chairperson of the State Employment and Training Commission, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Commissioner of Education, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio. The council shall also include one member from the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one member from the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, one member from the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and one member from the General Assembly appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, who shall serve during the two-year legislative session in which the appointment is made, and one public member appointed by the President of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

b. The council shall organize as soon as its membership has been appointed and shall select a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members and may select a secretary, who need not be a member of the council. The council shall meet quarterly, and at such other times as may be necessary.

c. It shall be the duty of the council to assess the condition of military skills and training in the State and to advise the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Education on expenditures from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund and other State funds for the training and education of workers in preparation for jobs with the military and supporting industries.

d. In developing an assessment of the condition of military skills and training in the State, the council shall:

(1) develop a comprehensive needs analysis of the State’s military installations and key industries;

(2) explore barriers impeding workforce alignment with the federal government and offer solutions to overcome those barriers;

(3) identify opportunities for growth and deficiencies in the current skill sets of the workforce;

(4) examine methods to develop and align curriculum, specifically science, technology, engineering, and math, at all levels of education in preparation for jobs with the military and supporting industries, as well as methods for increasing enrollment of students of all ages in science, technology, engineering, and math programs;

(5) develop methods to improve understanding of the resources, benefits, and improved outcomes for service members resulting from federal or State legislation that provides opportunities for veterans, such as the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008;

(6) prepare workforce development strategies for the jobs of today and the future, by expanding academic and training opportunities to support workforce needs and exploring public-private partnerships to support workforce development; and

(7) engage with educators, the military, and industry to ensure that workforce alignment initiatives address military, public, and private sector needs.

e. The council shall submit an annual report to the Legislature by March 1 of each year, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1).

L.2016, c.16, s.1.