N.J. Stat. tit. 34, ch. 15F

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-1 Findings, declarations relative to mentoring programs.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that there are a significant number of students in New Jersey who are economically and socially disadvantaged and who are alienated from the community and school. These students are at-risk of substance use disorder, teen pregnancy or other behavioral problems that inhibit academic achievement and successful integration into society. The Legislature further finds that mentoring programs that develop relationships between professionally trained and committed adult volunteers and at-risk students, for the purpose of providing support, counseling, reinforcement and constructive examples, create an environment in which students can achieve their full academic potential and which fosters their future success as productive citizens of the State. L.1999, c.279, s.1; amended 2023, c.177, s.116.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-2 Definitions relative to mentoring programs.

2. As used in this act: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development; "Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; "Educational foundation" means a nonprofit organization that may be created by or on behalf of a board of education or a nonprofit organization that has experience in the establishment of mentoring programs or the provision of services to at-risk youth; "Joint committee" means the Joint Committee on Mentoring; "Mentor" means a volunteer from the community who agrees to participate in a mentoring program; "Program" means the At-Risk Youth Mentoring Program established by this act; and "SDA district" means an SDA district as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-3). L.1999, c.279, s.2; amended 2004, c.61, s.2; 2007, c.260, s.79.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-3 At-Risk Youth Mentoring Program.

3. There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development an At-Risk Youth Mentoring Program to be administered by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development pursuant to the provisions of this act. The commissioner shall consult with the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Education and other appropriate State agencies regarding the development, operation and administration of the program. The commissioner shall also consult with the Community Agencies Corporation of New Jersey and other public and private nonprofit organizations providing youth mentoring services. The program shall provide for the training of volunteer mentors through local collaborative partnerships between the school district, the educational foundation and other community based organizations and for the assignment of mentors to at-risk students enrolled within a participating school district. The program shall also provide for collaboration with public and private organizations that provide comprehensive health, employment, and social services to youth. The purpose of the program shall be to enable at-risk students to develop a relationship with a caring and responsible adult to provide the personal and emotional support necessary for school success and future successful functioning in society. L.1999, c.279, s.3; amended 2006, c.47, s.182.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-4 "At-Risk Youth Mentoring Grant Fund."

4. There is established within the Department of Labor a separate grant fund to be known as the "At-Risk Youth Mentoring Grant Fund." An educational foundation shall be eligible to apply for a grant of a minimum of $25,000 up to a maximum of $50,000, depending on the size of the program, in order to pay the expenses associated with the operation and maintenance of a mentoring program. During the first year of implementation of the program, only educational foundations operating in Abbott districts shall be eligible to receive a grant. L.1999,c.279,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-5 Application for grant.

5. An educational foundation shall submit an application for a grant to the commissioner for his review. The application shall provide the following information: the name of the educational foundation; the name of the school district that created or authorized the creation of the foundation if applicable; the name of the coordinating teacher; a description of the activities of the program; the number and grade level of the students who will participate in the program; the process of student referral to the program; the selection criteria for student participants, which shall include the identification of students who are not successfully meeting the core curriculum content standards and district standards of behavior; the procedure for the identification and selection of adult mentors; an implementation schedule; a plan for supervision of the program; a training plan; a plan for quality assurance and evaluation;and the process which will be utilized to match students to mentors. An educational foundation shall also submit with its application a letter of commitment defining agreements to provide mentoring services for at-risk public school students in its respective school district. Preference may be given to applicants that have prior experience in the establishment and oversight of mentoring programs and the provision of services to at-risk youth. L.1999,c.279,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-6 Participation of mentor; student schedules.

6. a. Under the program each mentor shall commit to participate in the program for a minimum of one calendar year. Each student shall meet with a mentor one day per week for at least one hour unless the district determines that some other schedule would be of greater benefit to the student. Any meeting between the mentor and the student may also occur off school property or before or after school hours for the purpose of engaging in enrichment activities. b. A program shall not serve less than 25 students nor exceed 50 students, unless exceeding such a limit is approved by the commissioner. L.1999,c.279,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-7 Criminal history record check for mentor.

7. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1986, c.116 (C.18A:6-7.1 et seq.) to the contrary, a mentor shall undergo a criminal history record check in accordance with the procedures established in that act, except that the educational foundation shall bear the cost of the check, including all costs for administering and providing the check. L.1999,c.279,s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-8 Joint Committee on Mentoring.

8. There is created a joint legislative committee to be known as the Joint Committee on Mentoring. The joint committee shall be comprised of 12 members, six members from each House. The President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint three members, and the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Minority Leader of the General Assembly shall each appoint three members. L.1999,c.279,s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-9 Annual report on progress of mentoring program; report to Governor, Legislature after three years.

9. a. An educational foundation shall submit an annual report on the progress of its mentoring program to the department and to the joint committee on or before May 1 of each year. The report shall include information concerning the number of mentors and students participating in the program, the approximate number of hours each mentor spent with the students over the course of the preceding year, the utilization of grant funds, and a general description of activities conducted pursuant to the program. The department may establish additional reporting requirements as necessary. b. On or before January 1 of the third year of the program, the commissioner shall report to the Governor, the joint committee, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and the General Assembly on the effectiveness and implementation of the program. The report shall include a recommendation on whether the program should be continued. If the Legislature does not act on the recommendation by the adoption of a concurrent resolution within 60 days of the commissioner's submission of the report, then the commissioner's recommendation regarding continuation of the program shall take effect following the expiration of the third year of the program. L.1999,c.279,s.9.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-11 Rules, regulations.

11. The Department of Labor shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. L. 1999, c.279, s.11.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-12 Youth Employment and After School Incentive Pilot Program.

1. a. There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development a Youth Employment and After School Incentive Pilot Program which shall be administered by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12 et seq.). The program shall provide for employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth with private and nonprofit employers. The purpose of the program shall be to enable disadvantaged youth to acquire job knowledge and skills and an understanding of the linkage between the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to function as an adult in the workplace. As used in P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12 et seq.), "disadvantaged youth" means public and nonpublic school students as well as youth who are not students who reside in municipalities where both the rates of unemployment and violent crime significantly exceed the Statewide rates of unemployment and violent crime by percentages which shall be designated by the commissioner. The term shall include youth in these municipalities who are participating in a program of aftercare following their release from juvenile detention or community facilities. b. There is established in, but not of, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development the Disadvantaged Youth Employment Opportunities Council. Notwithstanding the allocation of the council to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the council shall directly report to the Chairperson of the State Employment and Training Commission established by section 5 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C.34:15C-2). The council shall consist of 18 members: the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the Commissioner of Education, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission, the Secretary of State and the Executive Director of the Youth Justice Commission, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio and as nonvoting members; and 12 public members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly. The Governor shall appoint two religious leaders and two representatives of education organizations. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint a leader of the business community, a labor leader, a representative of a county vocational-technical school, and a person representing organizations that have expertise serving the needs of disadvantaged youth. The public members shall serve for terms of three years, may be reappointed and may serve until a successor has been appointed. Of the public members first appointed, six shall be appointed for terms of three years, and six shall be appointed for terms of two years. A vacancy in the membership, occurring other than by expiration of a term, shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve without compensation, but the council may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it, reimburse members for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties. The council shall organize as soon as its members are 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 monthly, and at such other times as may be necessary. The council may employ, prescribe the duties and fix and pay the compensation of such persons it may deem necessary to carry out the duties of the council within the limits of available appropriations. It shall be the duty of the council to: (1) Develop a master plan to increase employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth; (2) Enlist the commitment of the State's business leadership to provide employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth; (3) Enlist the support of the State's key unions which operate apprenticeship and similar programs; (4) Develop proposals for innovative efforts to assist economically disadvantaged youth to enroll in and successfully complete employment programs; (5) Involve all sectors of the community, including high level representatives of business, youth-serving agencies, foundations, local school systems, the communications media, and the religious community in an effort to promote and coordinate employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth; and (6) In conjunction with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission, seek to identify and maximize any available federal funding for the purpose of enhancing employment opportunities provided under P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12 et seq.). The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for these purposes. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the State Employment and Training Commission and the council, may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12 et seq.). L.2001, c.446, s.1; amended 2007, c.189, s.1; 2025, c.35, s.56.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-13 Development, administration of program.

2. a. In cooperation with the Disadvantaged Youth Employment Opportunities Council established in section 1 of P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12), the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the State Employment and Training Commission shall develop and administer the employment program established under this act. The commissioner shall, to the greatest extent feasible, attempt to achieve a balance of enrolled disadvantaged youth from the northern, central, and southern parts of the State. b. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with the State Employment and Training Commission, the Department of Education, the Youth Justice Commission, and the council, shall develop procedures relating to the program referral process; establish the selection criteria for participants which shall include the identification of local disadvantaged youths assessed by local law enforcement and juvenile corrections authorities as being at risk of gang membership or involvement or reinvolvement in the criminal justice system and students who are not meeting minimal district standards of behavior and academic achievement; provide a listing of employers who have agreed to participate in the program; and establish the process which will be utilized for matching disadvantaged youth to employment opportunities that will enhance the self-esteem and assimilation of life skills necessary for productive functioning in the school setting and society. L.2001, c.446, s.2; amended 2007, c.189, s.2; 2025, c.35, s.57.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-14 Maximum hours of employment for youths.

3. a. The State's limitations on hours of employment for child labor shall govern the maximum hours of employment for youths employed through the program. For participation in the employment program, the youth shall receive from the employer compensation of not less than the minimum wage rate pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1966, c.113 (C.34:11-56a4). b. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, in conjunction with the State Employment and Training Commission and the council, shall endeavor to work with the Secretary of State, the Commissioner of Education, major Statewide education organizations, and nonprofit organizations providing specialized services to youth to publicize the opportunities available under the program and promote the voluntary participation therein of school districts and students. L.2001, c.446, s.3; amended 2007, c.189, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-15 Plan to collect data on effectiveness of program.

4. a. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall implement a plan to collect data on the effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs and conditions of disadvantaged youths which place them at risk of academic or social failure or both. The plan shall include a system to track participants to determine if they successfully completed the school year and whether such students and other youth participants succeed in making productive contributions to their communities. b. Within two years following the effective date of P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12 et seq.), the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development and Education, in concert with the State Employment and Training Commission and the council established in section 1 of P.L.2001, c.446 (C.34:15F-12), shall submit to the Governor and the Legislature an evaluation of the Youth Employment and After School Incentive Pilot Program and recommendations to the Legislature that will enable them to better coordinate and improve the effectiveness of their efforts. L.2001, c.446, s.4; amended 2007, c.189, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-16 Eligibility for tax credit allotments.

5. Employers participating in the employment program established under this act shall be eligible for the tax credit allotments authorized under the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as Assembly Bill No.1918 of 2000). L.2001,c.446,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 34:15F-17 Study, report on providing students with information and employment in high-demand industries.

1. The Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall undertake a review of all existing efforts of their respective departments that provide middle and high school students with information concerning employment in high-demand industries and shall report directly to the Governor no later than three months after the effective date of this act on whether those efforts provide sufficient career guidance to such students. L.2013,c .256, s.1.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026