AN ACT CONCERNING A MIDDLE COLLEGE SYSTEM.

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

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2009) (a) There is established a Board of Trustees for the Middle College System, which shall have oversight over the Board of Technical High Schools and the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges. The Board of Trustees for the Middle College System shall consist of twenty-four members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee. The members shall serve for terms of four years commencing on July first in the year of their appointment.

(b) There is established a Board of Technical High Schools, which shall have oversight over the Connecticut technical high schools. Such board shall consist of twelve members appointed by the Governor. The members shall serve for terms of four years commencing on July first in the year of their appointment.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2009) (a) On and after July 1, 2009, the Board of Trustees for the Middle College System shall assume all responsibilities of the State Board of Education regarding the vocational-technical school system and the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges pursuant to any provision of the general statutes. The transfer of functions, powers, duties, obligations, including, but not limited to, contract obligations, the continuance of orders and regulations, the effect upon pending actions and proceedings, the completion of unfinished business and the transfer of records and property between (1) the vocational-technical school system of the State Board of Education as said system existed immediately prior to July 1, 2009, and the Middle College System, and (2) the Board of Trustees for Community-Technical Colleges, as said board existed immediately prior to July 1, 2009, and the Middle College System shall both be governed by the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39 of the general statutes.

(b) Whenever the term "State Board of Education" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "Board of Technical High Schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 10-15d, 10-95 to 10-95e, inclusive, 10-95i to 10-95n, inclusive, 10-97, 10-98a and 10-99.

(c) Whenever the term "regional vocational-technical schools" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "Connecticut technical high schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 10-15d, 10-95 to 10-95e, inclusive, 10-95i to 10-95n, inclusive, 10-97, 10-98a and 10-99.

(d) Whenever the term "Commissioner of Education" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "superintendent of Connecticut Technical High Schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 10-15d, 10-95 to 10-95e, inclusive, 10-95i to 10-95n, inclusive, 10-97, 10-98a and 10-99.

Sec. 3. Section 4-124w of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) There [is established an] shall be within the Middle College System an Office of Workforce Competitiveness. [that shall be within the Office of Policy and Management for administrative purposes only.]

(b) The office shall:

(1) Be the Governor's principal workforce development policy advisor;

(2) Be the liaison between the Governor and any local, state or federal organizations and entities with respect to workforce development matters, including implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220, as amended from time to time; [amended;]

(3) Coordinate the workforce development activities of all state agencies;

(4) Coordinate the state's implementation of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220, as amended from time to time, [amended,] and advise and assist the Governor with matters related to said act;

(5) Coordinate the development and implementation of strategies regarding technology-based talent and innovation among state and quasi-public agencies, including the creation of a centralized clearinghouse and technical assistance function at the state level to assist applicants in developing small business innovation research programs in conformity with the federal program established pursuant to the Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992, P.L. 102-564, as amended from time to time, and other proposals;

(6) Establish methods and procedures to ensure the maximum involvement of members of the public, the legislature and local officials in workforce development matters, including implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220, as amended from time to time; [amended;]

(7) Subject to the provisions of chapter 67, appoint such officials and other employees as may be necessary for the discharge of the duties of the office;

(8) Enter into such contractual agreements, in accordance with established procedures, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and section 20 of public act 00-192*;

(9) Take any other action necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and section 20 of public act 00-192*;

(10) Be the lead state agency for the development of employment and training strategies and initiatives required to support Connecticut's position in the knowledge economy; and

(11) Not later than October 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, submit a report, with the assistance of the Labor Department, to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, economic development, labor and higher education and employment advancement specifying a forecasted assessment by the Labor Department of workforce shortages in occupations in this state for the succeeding two and five-year periods. The report shall also include recommendations concerning (A) methods to generate a sufficient number of workers to meet identified workforce needs, including, but not limited to, scholarship, school-to-career and internship programs, and (B) methods secondary and higher education and private industry can use to address identified workforce needs.

(c) The Office of Workforce Competitiveness may call upon any office, department, board, commission or other agency of the state to supply such reports, information and assistance as may be necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the duties and requirements of the Office for Workforce Competitiveness. Each officer or employee of such office, department, board, commission or other agency of the state is authorized and directed to cooperate with the Office of Workforce Competitiveness and to furnish such reports, information and assistance.

Sec. 4. Section 31-3b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) The Labor Commissioner shall appoint a job training coordinator who shall develop and implement innovative programs which will provide [(1)] job training for [(A)] (1) workers who are needed by industries planning to locate in Connecticut or by industries located in this state, [(B)] (2) unskilled entry level workers, [(C)] (3) workers in need of retraining due to the obsolescence of their skills, and [(D)] (4) workers who need skill training to qualify for advancement. [, (2) an incentive for the establishment of apprenticeship programs in selected occupations; provided no program shall be developed for occupations where prior skill or training is not typically a prerequisite to hiring, and (3) work training opportunities and placement of the chronically unemployed under section 31-3d.]

(b) The Labor Commissioner is authorized to establish an interagency program coordinating committee to coordinate the application of all available resources for the purposes of this section. Said committee shall consist of representatives of various employment and training agencies within the Labor Department and representatives of the Department of Education and the Department of Economic and Community Development.

(c) The Labor Commissioner may contract with any public or private agency for educational and job training services.

(d) The Labor Commissioner may accept and receive funds from any public or private source which become available for the purposes of this section and section 31-3d.

Sec. 5. Section 31-3w of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Labor Commissioner, in exercise of any duties including any duties as administrator under chapter 567, shall, within available resources, maintain a state-wide network of job centers which provide to workers, students and employers comprehensive workforce development assistance, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Unemployment compensation, retraining allowances and other forms of federal and state income support;

(2) Career, labor market, educational and job training information, and consumer reports on local training providers;

(3) Career planning and job search assistance;

(4) Applicant recruitment and screening, assessment of training needs, customized job training pursuant to this chapter, [apprenticeship] programs pursuant to chapter 557 and related consultative services to employers based on their employment needs;

(5) Eligibility determinations and referrals to providers of employment and training services; and

(6) Access to information regarding job openings and, where appropriate, referral to such openings.

(b) In carrying out responsibilities under this section, the commissioner shall:

(1) Collaborate with the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission established pursuant to section 31-3h and the regional workforce development boards established pursuant to section 31-3k;

(2) Promote coordination of service delivery and collaboration with other public and private providers of education, human services and employment and training services, including, but not limited to, adult education and literacy providers;

(3) Consult with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to ensure coordination of service delivery to employers;

(4) Conduct outreach to employers and trade associations to ensure that services meet the needs of business and industry; and

(5) Develop a comprehensive job training assistance application for employer-based training services and programs that allows the applicant to apply for any such assistance offered by the state in one application.

Sec. 6. Section 31-22m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

When used in sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, as amended by this act, "apprentice" means a person employed under a written agreement to work at and learn a specific trade; "apprentice agreement" means a written agreement entered into by an apprentice, or on his behalf by his parent or guardian, with an employer, or with an association of employers and an organization of employees acting as a joint apprenticeship committee, which agreement provides for not less than two thousand hours of work experience in approved trade training consistent with recognized requirements established by industry or joint labor-industry practice and for the number of hours of related and supplemental instructions prescribed by the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council or which agreement meets requirements of the federal government for on-the-job training schedules which are essential, in the opinion of the [Labor Commissioner] executive director of the Middle College System, for the development of manpower in Connecticut industries; "council" means the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council.

Sec. 7. Section 31-22n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

The Governor shall appoint twelve members to the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council, each of whom shall have some association with apprentice training. Four shall be representative of Connecticut industry, with one representative each from the manufacturing, building, mechanical and service industries, provided at least one such member represents a business that operates without a collective bargaining agreement; four shall be Connecticut members of national labor organizations with apprentice training programs; four shall represent the public, one of whom shall be the Labor Commissioner. Members shall each serve a term which is coterminous with the term of the Governor, each member to hold office until a successor is appointed. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term. It shall meet on the call of the chairman, who shall be the [Labor Commissioner] executive director of the Middle College System. On or before August first of each year, the council shall prepare a report describing the activities of the council, this report to be included in the Labor Commissioner's report to the Governor. The members of the council shall not be compensated for their services, but the members, except the Labor Commissioner and any state employee, shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Sec. 8. Section 31-22p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

The [Labor Commissioner] executive director of the Middle College System, with the advice and guidance of the council, shall formulate work training standards which will ensure necessary safeguards for the welfare of apprentices and a full craft experience in any skill, in order to provide equal opportunities to all, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin, and to provide training, employment and upgrading opportunities for disadvantaged workers to acquire a comprehensive skilled work experience and to extend the application of such standards of skill training by inclusion thereof in apprenticeship agreements, and shall bring together representatives of management and labor for the development of training programs and terms of apprenticeship incidental thereto and cooperate with state and federal agencies similarly interested in furtherance of training requirements in keeping with established and new processes of Connecticut industries. The [Labor Commissioner] executive director of the Middle College System shall publish information relating to existing and proposed work standards of apprenticeship, hold area conferences throughout the state for the purpose of promoting interest in skilled trades training and appoint such advisory committees as may be deemed necessary to evaluate the skilled manpower requirements of Connecticut in order to cope with any new technological changes in industry.

Sec. 9. Section 31-22r of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) (1) Each person who registered as an apprentice with the Labor Department before July 1, 2003, and has not completed an apprenticeship as of July 9, 2003, shall pay to the [Labor Department] executive director of the Middle College System a registration fee of twenty-five dollars on or before July 1, 2003, and a renewal registration fee of twenty-five dollars on or before July first of each subsequent year until (A) such registration is withdrawn, or (B) such person has completed an apprenticeship and possesses a valid journeyperson card of occupational license, if required.

(2) Each person who initially registers as an apprentice with the [Labor Department] executive director of the Middle College System on or after July 1, 2003, shall pay to the [Labor Department] executive director of the Middle College System a registration fee of twenty-five dollars at the time of registration and an annual renewal registration fee of twenty-five dollars until (A) such registration is withdrawn, or (B) such person has completed an apprenticeship and possesses a valid journeyperson card of occupational license, if required.

(b) Each person sponsoring an apprenticeship program registered with the Labor Department as of July 1, 2003, shall pay to the [Labor Department] executive director of the Middle College System an annual registration fee of thirty dollars for each apprentice participating in such program until the apprentice has completed the apprenticeship and possesses a valid journeyperson card of occupational license, if required, or such program is cancelled by the sponsor or deregistered for cause by the [Labor Department] executive director of the Middle College System in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, whichever is earlier.

(c) Any amount collected by the Labor Department or the executive director of the Middle College System pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund. [and credited to a separate nonlapsing appropriation to the Labor Department, for the purpose of administering the department's apprentice training program and sections 31-22m to 31-22p, inclusive.]

Sec. 10. Section 10-4 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2009):

(a) Said board shall have general supervision and control of the educational interests of the state, which interests shall include preschool, elementary and secondary education, special education [, vocational education] and adult education; shall provide leadership and otherwise promote the improvement of education in the state, including research, planning and evaluation and services relating to the provision and use of educational technology, including telecommunications, by school districts; shall prepare such courses of study and publish such curriculum guides including recommendations for textbooks, materials, instructional technological resources and other teaching aids as it determines are necessary to assist school districts to carry out the duties prescribed by law; shall conduct workshops and related activities, including programs of intergroup relations training, to assist teachers in making effective use of such curriculum materials and in improving their proficiency in meeting the diverse needs and interests of pupils; shall keep informed as to the condition, progress and needs of the schools in the state; and shall develop or cause to be developed evaluation and assessment programs designed to measure objectively the adequacy and efficacy of the educational programs offered by public schools and shall selectively conduct such assessment programs annually and report, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, on an annual basis.

(b) Said board shall submit to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education an account of the condition of the public schools and of the amount and quality of instruction therein and such other information as will assess the true condition, progress and needs of public education.

(c) Said board shall prepare every five years a five-year comprehensive plan for elementary, secondary [, vocational, career] and adult education. Said comprehensive plan shall include, but not be limited to, a policy statement of the State Board of Education's long-term goals and short-term objectives, an analysis of cost implications and measurement criteria and how said board's programs and operations relate to such goals and objectives and specific action plans, target dates and strategies and methods of implementation for achieving such goals and objectives. The State Board of Education shall establish every five years an advisory committee to assist the board in the preparation of the comprehensive plan. Members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the State Board of Education with representation on the committee to include, but not be limited to, representatives of [the Connecticut Advisory Council on Vocational and Career Education,] education organizations, parent organizations, student organizations, business and industry, organized labor and appropriate state agencies. [Notwithstanding any requirement for submission of a plan for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, pursuant to section 10-96a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983, the State Board of Education shall not be required to submit the master plan for vocational and career education but shall submit, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the comprehensive plan for elementary and secondary, vocational, career and adult education to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education on or before September 1, 1996, and every five years thereafter provided, the master plan currently in effect shall remain in effect until the comprehensive plan is submitted.] The State Board of Education shall be responsible for annually updating the progress in implementing the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan and shall report on such progress to the Governor and to said standing committee annually. The State Board of Education shall provide opportunity for public comment prior to its adoption of a plan.

(d) Not later than December 15, 2004, and annually thereafter, within available appropriations, the board shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that summaries of reports required pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 10-16r are submitted. The board shall summarize the reports and submit such summaries, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.

Sec. 11. Sections 10-95h, 10-95m, 31-22s and 31-3kk of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2009)

Statement of Purpose:

To establish the Middle College System by consolidating the regional vocational-technical high schools with the community-technical colleges.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]