AN ACT CONCERNING BIOTECH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2007) (a) Within available appropriations, the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and the boards of trustees of the constituent units of the state system of higher education and the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, and a representative of an economic cluster, as defined in section 32-4e of the general statutes relating to the bioscience industry, shall establish a pilot program to provide bioscience-related externship and cooperative work-study opportunities to students attending institutions of higher education in Connecticut.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2007, the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with the Commissioner of Higher Education and the boards of trustees of the constituent units of the state system of higher education and the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, shall establish written participation guidelines for the pilot program pursuant to this section.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2008, the Office of Workforce Competitiveness shall submit a status report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the establishment and on any operation of the pilot program pursuant to this section to the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement.