Directs DOLWD to identify, and post on website, employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for persons returning to workforce after imprisonment.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Shama Haider and 5 co-sponsors

Requires DOLWD to identify and publicly post minimal-barrier job opportunities for people reentering after imprisonment.

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

Bill Summary: A-1760 (NJ, 2026)

Purpose and intent

Directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to identify employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for individuals returning to work after imprisonment.

Requires ongoing posting of this information on DOLWD’s website to facilitate reentry into the labor market.

Key provisions and changes

DOLWD duty: The department must identify employment opportunities for “returning to workforce after imprisonment” with minimal barriers and maintain ongoing online postings.

Reporting requirements for programs and entities: Prisoner reentry programs, organizations, or other entities that are operated by the State, a county or municipality, or other local units, or that receive State funds, must report to DOLWD on a quarterly basis.

Reports must cover employment partnerships, opportunities, and any other employment-related data determined necessary by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to achieve the bill’s goals.

Committee amendments: The amendments standardized the quarterly reporting requirement to apply broadly to all relevant programs and entities (State, county/municipality, local units, or those receiving State funds) and to include the data identified as necessary by the Commissioner.

Who would be affected

State, county, and local government-operated prisoner reentry programs and organizations.

Entities that receive State funding and are involved in prisoner reentry or employment programs.

The primary state agency involved: the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), which would collect data and maintain the public employment postings.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Prefiled for the 2026-2027 session and reviewed by technical staff; amended by the Assembly Labor Committee.

As amended, the bill would require quarterly reporting from eligible programs/entities to DOLWD and ongoing posting of identified employment opportunities on the department’s website.

Current action status: Reported out of Assembly Labor Committee with amendments (2nd Reading) on May 7, 2026; original introduction on January 13, 2026.

Potential impact

Improved visibility of low-barrier employment options for individuals reentering the workforce after imprisonment.

Enhanced data collection on reentry employment programs, enabling better coordination and potential policy adjustments.

Centralized, publicly accessible information could reduce time barriers for returning individuals seeking work and for service providers coordinating opportunities.

Notes

The bill emphasizes minimal-entry opportunities, though it does not specify exact definitions of “minimal barriers” within the summary; the detailed criteria would appear in implementing regulations or the final statute.

The requirement to report “employment partnerships, opportunities, and any other employment-related data” is determined by the Commissioner, allowing some flexibility in the data collected.