AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF OBSOLETE REPORTS AND PROGRAMS INVOLVING THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 31-3h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) There is created, within the Labor Department, the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission.
(b) The duties and responsibilities of the commission shall include:
(1) Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a state job training coordinating council pursuant to the federal Job Training Partnership Act, 29 USC 1532, as amended from time to time, a state human resource investment council pursuant to 29 USC 1501 et seq. , as amended from time to time, and such other related entities as the Governor may direct;
(2) Reviewing all employment and training programs in the state to determine their success in leading to and obtaining the goal of economic self-sufficiency and to determine if such programs are serving the needs of Connecticut's workers, employers and economy;
(3) Developing a plan for the coordination of all employment and training programs in the state to avoid duplication and to promote the delivery of comprehensive, individualized employment and training services and the reemployment of workers fifty years of age or older. The plan shall contain the commission's recommendations for policies and procedures to enhance the coordination and collaboration of all such programs; [and shall be submitted on January 31, 2015, and annually thereafter, to the Governor for the Governor's approval; ]
(4) Reviewing and commenting on all employment and training programs enacted by the General Assembly;
(5) Implementing the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P. L. 105-220, as amended from time to time. Such implementation shall include (A) developing, in consultation with the regional workforce development boards, a single Connecticut workforce development plan that (i) complies with the provisions of said act and section 31-11p, and (ii) includes comprehensive state performance measures for workforce development activities specified in Title I of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P. L. 105-220, as amended from time to time, which performance measures comply with the requirements of 20 CFR Part 666. 100, (B) [preparing and submitting a report on the state's progress in achieving such performance measures to the Governor and the General Assembly annually on January thirty-first, (C)] making recommendations to the General Assembly concerning the allocation of funds received by the state under said act and making recommendations to the regional workforce development boards concerning the use of formulas in allocating such funds to adult employment and job training activities and youth activities, as specified in said act, [(D)] (C) providing oversight and coordination of the state-wide employment statistics system required by said act, [(E)] (D) as appropriate, recommending to the Governor that the Governor apply for workforce flexibility plans and waiver authority under said act, after consultation with the regional workforce development boards, [(F)] (E) developing performance criteria for regional workforce development boards to utilize in creating a list of eligible providers, and [(G)] (F) on or before December 31, 1999, developing a uniform individual training accounts voucher system that shall be used by the regional workforce development boards to pay for training of eligible workers by eligible providers, as required under said act;
(6) Developing and overseeing a plan for the continuous improvement of the regional workforce development boards established pursuant to section 31-3k, as amended by this act;
(7) Developing incumbent worker, and vocational and manpower training programs, including customized job training programs to enhance the productivity of Connecticut businesses and to increase the skills and earnings of underemployed and at-risk workers, and other programs administered by the regional workforce development boards. The Labor Department, in collaboration with the regional workforce development boards, shall implement any incumbent worker and customized job training programs developed by the commission pursuant to this subdivision;
(8) Developing a strategy for providing comprehensive services to eligible youths, which strategy shall include developing youth preapprentice and apprentice programs through, but not limited to, technical high schools, and improving linkages between academic and occupational learning and other youth development activities; and
(9) Coordinating an electronic state hiring campaign to encourage the reemployment of workers fifty years of age or older to be administered through the Labor Department's Internet web site, which shall include testimony from various employers that demonstrates the value of hiring and retaining workers fifty years of age or older. Not later than January 1, 2015, the commission shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor on the status of such campaign.
[(c) On January 31, 2000, and annually thereafter, the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission shall submit to the Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, education, labor and social services a report on the progress made by the commission in carrying out its duties and responsibilities during the preceding year and the commission's goals and objectives for the current year. ]
Sec. 2. Section 31-3k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) There is established within the Labor Department a regional work force development board for each work force development region in the state. Each board shall assess the needs and priorities for investing in the development of human resources within the region and shall coordinate a broad range of employment, education, training and related services that shall be focused on client-centered, lifelong learning and shall be responsive to the needs of local business, industry, the region, its municipalities and its citizens.
(b) Each board, within its region, shall:
(1) Carry out the duties and responsibilities of a private industry council under the Job Training Partnership Act, provided the private industry council within the region elects by a vote of its members to become a board and the Labor Commissioner approves the council as a regional work force development board.
(2) Within existing resources and consistent with the state employment and training information system and any guidelines issued by the commissioner under subsection (b) of section 31-2, [and with the annual plan developed by the commission under section 31-3h and approved by the Governor,] (A) assess regional needs and identify regional priorities for employment and training programs, including, but not limited to, an assessment of the special employment needs of unskilled and low-skilled unemployed persons, including persons receiving state-administered general assistance or short-term unemployment assistance, (B) conduct planning for regional employment and training programs, (C) coordinate such programs to ensure that the programs respond to the needs of labor, business and industry, municipalities within the region, the region as a whole, and all of its citizens, (D) serve as a clearinghouse for information on all employment and training programs in the region, (E) prepare and submit an annual plan containing the board's priorities and goals for regional employment and training programs to the commissioner and the commission for their review and approval, (F) review grant proposals and plans submitted to state agencies for employment and training programs that directly affect the region to determine whether such proposals and plans are consistent with the annual regional plan prepared under subparagraph (E) of this subdivision and inform the commission and each state agency concerned of the results of the review, (G) evaluate the effectiveness of employment and training programs within the region in meeting the goals contained in the annual regional plan prepared under subparagraph (E) of this subdivision and report its findings to the commissioner and the commission on an annual basis, (H) ensure the effective use of available employment and training resources in the region, and (I) allocate funds where applicable for program operations in the region.
(3) Provide information to the commissioner concerning (A) all employment and training programs, grants or funds to be effective or available in the region in the following program year, (B) the source and purpose of such programs, grants or funds, (C) the projected amount of such programs, grants or funds, (D) persons, organizations and institutions eligible to participate in such programs or receive such grants or funds, (E) characteristics of clients eligible to receive services pursuant to such programs, grants or funds, (F) the range of services available pursuant to such programs, grants or funds, (G) goals of such programs, grants or funds, (H) where applicable, schedules for submitting requests for proposals, planning instructions, proposals and plans, in connection with such programs, grants or funds, (I) the program period for such programs, grants or funds, and (J) any other data relating to such programs, grants or funds that the commissioner or the commission deems essential for effective state planning.
(4) Carry out the duties and responsibilities of the local board for purposes of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P. L. 105-220, as from time to time amended.
(5) Establish a worker training education committee comprised of persons from the education and business communities within the region, including, but not limited to, regional community-technical colleges and technical high schools.
(c) Each board shall make use of grants or contracts with appropriate service providers to furnish all program services under sections 31-3j to 31-3r, inclusive, unless the commission concurs with the board that direct provision of a service by the board is necessary to assure adequate availability of the service or that a service of comparable quality can be provided more economically by the board. Any board seeking to provide services directly shall include in the annual regional plan submitted to the commissioner and the commission under subparagraph (E) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section its plan to provide services directly and appropriate justification for the need to do so. When the decision to provide services directly must be made between annual planning cycles, the board shall submit to the commissioner and the commission a plan of service and appropriate justification for the need to provide services directly. Such plan of service shall be subject to review and approval by the commission.
(d) On October 1, 2002, and annually thereafter, each board shall submit to the Labor Department comprehensive performance measures detailing the results of any education, employment or job training program or activity funded by moneys allocated to the board, including, but not limited to, programs and activities specified in the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P. L. 105-220, as from time to time amended. Such performance measures shall include, but shall not be limited to, the identity and performance of any vendor that enters into a contract with the board to conduct, manage or assist with such programs or activities, the costs associated with such programs or activities, the number, gender and race of persons served by such programs or activities, the number, gender and race of persons completing such programs or activities, occupational skill types, the number, gender and race of persons who enter unsubsidized employment upon completion of such programs or activities, the number, gender and race of persons who remain in unsubsidized employment six months later and the earnings received by such persons.
Sec. 3. Section 31-3o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) The commission shall review and approve each annual regional plan prepared pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 31-3k, as amended by this act.
(b) The commission shall ensure that the membership of each board satisfies the representation requirements of section 31-3l and regulations adopted by the commissioner under section 31-3n.
(c) The commission [, in developing the annual plan for the coordination of all employment and training programs in the state under section 31-3h,] shall review and consider the annual report of each board evaluating the effectiveness of employment and training programs, prepared pursuant to subparagraph (G) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 31-3k, as amended by this act.
Sec. 4. Section 31-3u of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development may allocate the funds authorized for the purposes of this section by subsection (b) of section 32-235 to the Labor Commissioner for the purpose of providing assistance to employers (1) for the job training or retraining of (A) current employees or (B) prospective employees in newly-created jobs and (2) including, but not limited to, meeting ISO 9000 quality standards. The Labor Commissioner, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall provide for such training or retraining through customized job training programs authorized under this chapter. The Labor Commissioner may use vouchers for the purposes of this subsection.
(b) The Labor Commissioner and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall jointly develop criteria for the evaluation and assessment of the assistance provided under subsection (a) of this section.
[(c) The Labor Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall submit an annual report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Labor Department on the assistance provided under subsection (a) of this section. ]
Sec. 5. Section 31-11t of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) The Connecticut Employment and Training Commission shall provide each regional workforce development board with criteria for the evaluation of funded programs, including a description of the amount, type and effectiveness of literacy training provided to participants, the number of persons completing job training, the gender and race of persons who receive training, occupational skill types, the number of persons who enter unsubsidized employment, the number of persons who remain in unsubsidized employment six months later and the earnings received by such persons.
(b) The commission shall develop an education and job training report card to assess the accomplishments of Connecticut's workforce development system and for meeting the accountability requirements of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P. L. 105-220, as from time to time amended. The report card shall address the effectiveness of such system in meeting (1) employers' needs for educated and trained workers, and (2) clients' needs for improving their economic well-being.
[(c) The commission shall include the evaluation of funded programs in the annual report submitted pursuant to subsection (c) of section 31-3h. ]
Sec. 6. Section 10-95f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Whenever the term "regional vocational-technical school" or "regional vocational-technical schools" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "technical high school" or "technical high schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 4-124ff, 4a-11a, 4d-83, 5-275, 8-265pp, 10-9, 10-19d, 10-19e, 10-21g, 10-66p, 10-67, 10-74d, 10-76q, 10-95a, 10-95j, 10-95n, 10-95o, 10-97, 10-98a, 10-233d, 10-235, 10-264l, 10-283, 10-287d, 10a-55e, 10a-55g, 10a-72d, 17b-610, 31-3c, 31-3h, as amended by this act, 31-3k, as amended by this act, 31-11p, 32-4i, 32-6j and 32-475.
(b) Whenever the term "vocational-technical school" or "vocational-technical schools" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "technical high school" or "technical high schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 1-79, 1-84d, 1-91, 4-67g, 4-124z, 4-124hh, 4a-2, 10-15d, 10-19e, 10-21g, 10-69, 10-95a, 10-95l, 10-235, 10-262n, 10-284, 10a-25b, 17b-688i [, 31-3ee] and 31-51ww.
(c) Whenever the term "vocational school" or "vocational schools" is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term "technical high school" or "technical high schools" shall be substituted in lieu thereof: 4-29, 10-13, 10-55, 10-64, 10-97, 10-186, 10a-123, 10a-166, 14-36, 20-90, 31-23, 31-24, 38a-682 and 48-9.
(d) The Legislative Commissioners' Office shall, in codifying the provisions of this section, make such technical, grammatical and punctuation changes as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 7. Sections 31-3ee and 4-124ww of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage)
Approved June 6, 2016