Career-technical education study.

WORKING DRAFT
2005
STATE OF WYOMING
05LSO-0618.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0280

Career-technical education study.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Wasserburger

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to career-technical education; creating and providing for a task force to conduct a study of career-technical education in Wyoming; specifying study content areas; establishing a business coalition advisory group to assist the task force; allowing reimbursement of expenses incurred by advisory group members; specifying reporting requirements; imposing duties on the department of education; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

A task force is established to review career-technical education in Wyoming and to create transitions from career-technical education programs in Wyoming public schools to Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming and to the job market. In accomplishing this purpose, the task force shall study:

(i)

Career-technical education delivery options;

(ii)

Career-technical education program quality standards;

(iii)

Statewide equipment needs for program delivery;

(iv)

Academic enrichment of public education through career-technical education programs;

(v)

Career guidance and counseling services necessary at the public school level to assist the transition to post-secondary education programs and to the job market;

(vi)

Programs and processes which may be established at both the secondary education level and at the post-secondary education level to enhance a seamless transition process;

(vii)

Career-technical education training and certification for instruction in secondary and post-secondary education programs in Wyoming;

(viii)

Structural alternatives to the public education system and the post-secondary education system to enhance the transition process.

(b)

Membership on the task force established under subsection (a) of this section shall consist of seventeen (17) members comprised of the following:

(i)

The state superintendent of public instruction or his designee;

(ii)

Two (2) representatives from the department of education appointed by the state superintendent;

(iii)

Two (2) Wyoming teachers in secondary career-technical education programs selected by the Wyoming association for career and technical education;

(iv)

One (1) representative from the University of Wyoming appointed by the president of the university;

(v)

Two (2) representatives from Wyoming community colleges appointed by the Wyoming community college commission, one (1) of which shall instruct post-secondary career-technical education programs;

(vi)

One (1) member of the Wyoming workforce development council selected by the council;

(vii)

A representative of the department of workforce services selected by the department director;

(viii)

A representative of the Wyoming department of employment designated by the department director;

(ix)

A representative of the Wyoming business council selected by the council;

(x)

One (1) member of the Wyoming senate appointed by the president of the senate and one (1) member of the Wyoming house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;

(xi)

Two (2) members who are parents of school age students and are selected by the superintendent of public instruction;

(xii)

One (1) member of the state board of education selected by the board.

(c)

Appointments specified under subsection (b) of this section shall be made and the task force shall be operational by April 1, 2005.

(d)

In addition to task force members, a business coalition advisory group of not more than seven (7) representatives of the Wyoming business community shall be selected jointly by the state superintendent of public instruction and the Wyoming business council for purposes of providing advisory assistance to the task force in reviewing study findings and in developing study recommendations. Advisory group members shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses authorized by law for state employees while participating in official advisory group business.

(e)

Not later than November 1, 2005, the task force shall report its findings and recommendations developed under this section to the joint education interim committee and the joint appropriations interim committee. Recommendations shall include a detailed plan for implementation of recommendations, proposed legislation necessary for implementing plan recommendations and a recommended budget to execute the recommended plan.

(f)

The department of education shall provide staffing and support services necessary to carry out task force responsibilities under this section. The department may contract with consulting services on behalf of the task force, as necessary to conduct the task force study required by this section.

(g)

For the period commencing on the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2006, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) is appropriated from the school foundation program account to the department of education for purposes of this section. Any of these funds not expended by June 30, 2006, for the purpose of this act shall be returned to the school foundation program account.

Section 2.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0280