Establishes the advanced nuclear energy workforce development commission; directs the advanced nuclear energy workforce development commission to establish and administer the advanced nuclear energy workforce development program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10966
IN ASSEMBLY
April 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GRAY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
advanced nuclear energy workforce development commission and the
advanced nuclear energy workforce development program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 168-A
2 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 168-A
4 ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
5 Section 8857. Definitions.
6 8858. Advanced nuclear energy workforce development commission
7 and program.
8 § 8857. Definitions. Wherever used in this article:
9 1. "Commission" shall mean the advanced nuclear energy workforce
10 development commission.
11 2. "Program" shall mean the advanced nuclear energy workforce develop-
12 ment program.
13 3. "Industry expert" shall mean a person with experience in the
14 construction, operation, and maintenance of nuclear reactors, including
15 but not limited to small modular reactors.
16 4. "Institutions of higher education" shall mean colleges and univer-
17 sities operated by the state university of New York or the city univer-
18 sity of New York.
19 5. "Institutions of career education" shall mean schools operated by
20 vocational education and extension boards.
21 § 8858. Advanced nuclear energy workforce development commission and
22 program. 1. There is hereby created the advanced nuclear energy work-
23 force development commission. The commission shall consist of the
24 commissioner, or their designee, the chancellor of the state university
25 of New York, or their designee, the chancellor of the city university of
26 New York, or their designee, and three industry experts appointed by the
27 governor who shall serve a term of five years. All members of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13884-02-5
A. 10966 2
1 commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for
2 travel expenses related to the work of the commission.
3 2. The commission shall establish and administer the program author-
4 ized under this article for the purpose of addressing urgent and skilled
5 labor demands in the advanced nuclear energy industry in this state.
6 3. Under the program, the commission shall:
7 (a) Create a strategic plan for:
8 (i) Addressing labor supply gaps and skill gap issues in the advanced
9 nuclear energy industry; and
10 (ii) Providing grants and financial assistance, including through the
11 creation of strategic partnerships with public agencies, private enti-
12 ties, and advanced nuclear energy industry stakeholders, to incentivize
13 and support:
14 (1) the development of programming and outreach efforts designed to
15 create awareness of nuclear science and career opportunities in the
16 field of advanced nuclear energy among students;
17 (2) the creation of academic pathways from institutions of secondary
18 education and to education and training programs at institutions of
19 higher education and institutions of career education in the field of
20 advanced nuclear energy;
21 (3) the creation of academic programs in the field of advanced nuclear
22 energy by institutions of higher education and institutions of career
23 education; and
24 (4) research and leadership development in the field of advanced
25 nuclear energy at institutions of higher education; and
26 (b) Develop customized curriculum requirements for degree and certif-
27 icate programs to prepare students for careers in the advanced nuclear
28 energy industry, that may be offered by institutions of higher education
29 and institutions of career education. In developing the curriculum, the
30 commission shall focus on developing programs leading to jobs in the
31 areas of:
32 (i) nuclear-grade welding;
33 (ii) radiological control and monitoring;
34 (iii) reactor operations;
35 (iv) nuclear instrumentation and control; and
36 (v) nuclear engineering.
37 4. No later than December thirty-first of each year beginning in the
38 year two thousand twenty-six, the commission shall deliver a report to
39 the governor and the legislature on the status and efficacy of the
40 program.
41 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
