4. a. The Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is hereby established in, but not of, the Department of Labor. Notwithstanding any appropriations that are made to the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership from the revenues collected pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1992, c.44 (C. 34:15D-13), the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is separate from the Workforce Development Partnership Program and not subject to the requirements of P.L.1992, c.43 (C. 34:15D-1 et al.).

b. The purpose of the Youth Transitions to Work Partnership is to facilitate effective transitions by youths to high-skill, high-wage employment in labor demand occupations with long-term career potential and opportunities for occupationally relevant lifelong learning, and thereby motivate youth to greater success in secondary and post-secondary education. To implement that purpose, the partnership shall provide consortia of businesses, business organizations, labor organizations and educational institutions with:

(1) Grants pursuant to section 5 of this act for the establishment of new apprenticeship programs in occupations or industries which do not currently have apprenticeship programs in this State; and

(2) Grants pursuant to sections 6 and 7 of this act to establish new programs to link education and higher education to either existing apprenticeship programs or new apprenticeship programs established pursuant to section 5 of this act.

c. All training, education or other services provided pursuant to this act shall be for careers in occupations which are labor demand occupations and have an average level of pay in the State which exceeds 80% of the average level of pay for all workers in the State or shall be in connection with an apprenticeship program in which the average level of pay upon completion of the program exceeds 80% of the average level of pay for all workers in the State.

d. Funds available in connection with the partnership shall not be used for activities which:

(1) Induce, encourage or assist: any displacement of currently employed workers by trainees, including partial displacement by means such as reduced hours of currently employed workers; any replacement of laid off workers by trainees; or any relocation of operations resulting in a loss of employment at a previous workplace;

(2) Replace, supplant, compete with or duplicate in any way existing approved apprenticeship programs; or

(3) Impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements, except that activities which would be inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement may be undertaken with the written concurrence of the collective bargaining unit and employer who are parties to the agreement.

e. Any business which has an individual working for it under a program established under a grant provided by the partnership shall be responsible for providing workers’ compensation coverage for the individual.

L.1993,c.268,s.4; amended 1994,c.73,s.2.