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Bill Text

A5343 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5343 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED JUNE 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� BRIAN BERGEN

District 26 (Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates long-term care workforce development program 
and advisory council. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act establishing a long-term care workforce 
development program and supplementing Titles 34 and 54 of the Revised Statutes.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� As used in this act:

���� �Certified nursing assistant� 
means any individual who has fulfilled the Certified Nursing Aid requirements 
as established by the New Jersey Department of Health and maintains an active 
license as issued by that department.

���� �Certified home health aide� 
means a professional care giver responsible for helping individuals maintain 
their personal health and hygiene in a home setting.� A certified home health 
aid has fulfilled the certification requirements established by the Department 
of Human Servies and is listed on the online directory of Certified Home Health 
Aides as maintained by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

���� �Commissioner� means the 
Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

���� �Department� means the 
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.�

���� �Personal care assistant� 
means any individual who has fulfilled the Certified Nursing Aid requirements 
as established by the New Jersey Department of Health and maintains an active 
license as issued by that department.

���� �Qualified direct care worker� 
means a worker employed as a certified nursing assistant, certified home health 
aide, or personal care assistant for at least 720 hours in total during a tax 
year.

���� 2.��� a.� There is established 
in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development a Direct Health Care 
Worker Training Grant Program. �The program shall provide up to $5,000 per 
worker toward the pursuit of certification as, or continuing education related 
to, the professions of certified nursing assistant, certified home health aide, 
or personal care assistant.

���� b.��� The program shall:

���� (1)�� provide an incentive to workers 
to pursue careers in the targeted fields;

���� (2)�� inform workers of the 
program established pursuant to this section; and

���� (3)�� be limited to a two-year 
duration per individual enrollee.

���� c.���� A worker subject to the 
provisions of this act may apply for the Direct Health Care Worker Training 
Grant established pursuant to this section in accordance with application 
procedures established by the commissioner.

���� d.��� The commissioner shall 
certify eligibility and program participation for the program established 
pursuant to this section, and shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the 
�Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to 
effectuate the purposes of this Direct Health Care Worker Training Grant, and 
to prevent the duplication of benefits across State workforce development 
programs.

���� 3.��� a.� For taxable years 
beginning in 2027, a taxpayer employed as a qualified direct care worker shall 
be allowed a credit against the New Jersey gross income tax due pursuant to 
N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq. in an amount equal to $1,200.� In the case of a qualified 
direct care worker filing a joint return with another resident individual who 
is also a qualified direct care worker, the credit shall be in an amount equal 
to $2,000.

���� b.��� The credit allowed by 
this section shall not be allowed to a taxpayer whose gross income exceeds:

���� (1)�� $75,000 in the case of a 
taxpayer who files a single return; or

���� (2)�� $100,000 in the case of 
a taxpayer who files a joint return.

���� c.���� A taxpayer shall apply 
in a form and manner to be determined by the Director of the Division of 
Taxation in the Department of the Treasury for the tax credit provided pursuant 
to this section.

���� 4.��� a.� The New Jersey 
Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development shall 
consult with each county college in the State to develop a standardized elder 
care certificate program.� The certificate programs established by a county 
college shall be directly targeted to business and industry located in the 
region that have an identified and immediate need to hire employees with 
education and skills that are not being addressed through available training 
and educational opportunities.

���� b.��� (1)� Under a certificate 
program, the county college shall develop the curriculum to ensure that it is 
directly aligned to the needs of those patients requiring elder care.

���� (2)�� The county college shall 
provide the faculty for the certificate program and shall make college 
facilities available for the program.� Upon agreement with any elder care 
facility, certificate program classes may be provided on