New Jersey Senate Bill S533

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22
• Report Pass: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ apprentices in DOL registered apprenticeships.

Impact

The bill has significant implications for state tax laws, as it directly modifies the state's corporation business tax scheme and gross income tax regulations. It establishes a structured financial incentive for businesses to participate in the DOL's registered apprenticeship programs. This move is anticipated to align with broader strategies intended to enhance employment opportunities and improve the skill set of New Jersey's workforce. Proponents argue that increasing the availability of apprenticeships will meet the state’s demand for skilled workers in diverse sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing.

Summary

Senate Bill S533 aims to promote workforce development in New Jersey by offering corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ apprentices in registered apprenticeship programs sanctioned by the Department of Labor (DOL). The bill provides a tax credit of $1,000 for each apprentice employed for a minimum of seven months during a taxable year. Additionally, if the apprentice is from specific background groups—such as veterans, displaced workers, or individuals receiving public assistance—the tax credit could increase up to $5,000 per apprentice. This initiative encourages businesses to engage with and invest in a skilled labor force.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support, it also poses potential points of contention. Critics may raise concerns about the potential for these tax incentives to not be sufficiently monitored, possibly allowing for misuse where businesses could exploit the credits without genuinely creating apprenticeship opportunities that benefit the community. The bill explicitly safeguards against adverse impacts on existing workers and apprenticeship programs by preventing any displacement of currently employed workers by trainees and ensuring no competition with established programs. The effective integration of these stipulations into the operational framework for businesses will be crucial to the bill's success.