Career education task force-2.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0612

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0132

Career education task force-2.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Coe and Massie and Representative(s) Gentile, Hammons, McOmie and Simpson

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public education; establishing a task force to develop state policy recommendations on career education designed to provide students career choices; specifying study parameters; providing for task force staffing; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

(a)

There is created the career education task force to consist of:

(i)

The state superintendent of public instruction, who shall serve as task force chairman;

(ii)

A member of the senate education committee appointed by the president of the senate;

(iii)

A member of the house education committee appointed by the speaker of the house;

(iv)

The director of the
Wyoming
department of workforce services;

(v)

A superintendent of a
Wyoming
school district appointed by the state superintendent;

(vi)

The executive director of the
Wyoming
community college commission;

(vii)

A representative of the
University
of
Wyoming
appointed by the university president;

(viii)

An employee of a board of cooperative educational services appointed by the state superintendent;

(ix)

A representative of the
Wyoming
business community appointed by the governor.

(b)

The task force shall develop recommendations for improving career and technical education in
Wyoming
public high schools ensuring student choice in career pathways based upon the following fundamental principles:

(i)

Preparation of public high school students for a full range of post-secondary options, including two (2) and four (4) year college, apprenticeship, military and formal employment training;

(ii)

Connection of academic and technical curriculum grounded in academic and industry standards;

(iii)

Institution of innovative strategies for ensuring student access to career choices, as well as opportunities for work-based learning and dual enrollment in related post-secondary education courses;

(iv)

Assurance that school facilities appropriately accommodate
career and technical
programs and program strategies.

(c)

All task force appointing authorities designated under subsection (a) of this section shall make appointments in sufficient time to enable the initial task force meeting to be held not later than May 1, 2007. Thereafter, task force meetings shall be scheduled upon the call of the state superintendent. Task force members shall serve through March 31, 2009.

(d)

The department of education shall staff the task force established under this section and the task force may retain consultants as necessary to fulfill its duties under this section. All state agencies shall assist the task force as may be requested by the task force or the department in executing this section.

(e)

Legislative members of the task force shall receive compensation, per diem and travel expenses in the manner and amount prescribed by W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101. Committee members who are not legislators and are not state employees shall receive the per diem and mileage paid members of the
Wyoming
legislature under W.S. 28
‑
5-101 for each day of actual task force meetings and travel to those meetings. Task force members who are state officials or employees shall be paid expenses incurred in the performance of official task force business out of the budget of the respective state agency.

(f)

Not later than August 1, 2008, the task force shall report its recommendations developed under this section to the governor and the joint education interim committee. Task force members shall assist the joint education
interim
committee with development of any necessary legislation implementing task force recommendations.

Section 2.

(a)

For the period commencing on the effective date of this act and ending March 31, 2009, two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) is appropriated from the public school foundation program account to the department of education as necessary to fund the career education task force in carrying out its duties under this act.

(b)

For the period commencing on the effective date of this act and ending March 31, 2009, ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) is appropriated from the public school foundation program account to the legislative service office to
fund
the expenses of the state legislators appointed to the task force, as necessary to complete duties assigned to the task force under this act.

Section 3.

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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SF0132