Workforce training appropriation.

WORKING DRAFT
2008
STATE OF
WYOMING
08LSO-0198

HOUSE BILL
NO.

HB0028

Workforce training appropriation.

Sponsored by:
Joint Education
Interim
Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
workforce training and development; appropriating funds for start-up costs of
workforce training programs; establishing an advisory council appointed by the governor and comprised of industry representatives to assist the community college commission in distributing funds to eligible programs; defining training and prescribing eligibility criteria parameters; granting rulemaking authority; providing
an
administrative appropriation;
and providing for effective date
s
.

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

Section 1.

(a)

For the period commencing July 1, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009, fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the
Wyoming
community college commission to fund
start-up costs of
workforce training and development
programs
pursuant to this section. Programs eligible for funding under this section shall be based upon
recommendations of the workforce training and development advisory council created by this section and approved by the commission
in accordance with criteria established by the commission
.

(b)

As used in this section, "workforce training" means training that meets current, projected or emerging shortages in the
Wyoming
economy, with consideration given to the goal of diversification.

(c)

The
Wyoming
workforce training and development advisory council is created to prioritize
and recommend
workforce training and development projects
to the
Wyoming
community college commission for funding under this section.
Not later than Ju
ne
1, 2008, t
he governor shall appoint seven (7) members to the council from among representatives of the major industries in Wyoming, including mining and minerals, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and small business. Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed by the community college commission for travel and per diem expenses in the manner and amount provided by law for state employees, as necessary to carry out duties imposed under this section.

(d)

Subject to subsection (e) of this section, t
he Wyoming community college commission shall
by rule and regulation
on or before July 1, 2008
,
establish criteria for
funding under this section that limits funding eligibility to jobs requiring specialized training, paying a sustainable wage and that are listed among the high demand, fastest growing jobs in Wyoming as determined by the Wyoming department of workforce services and the department of employment. Eligibility criteria shall also be based in part upon the occupational information network data for
Wyoming
. Training
should be provided for those jobs that comprise industry sectors meet
ing
established criteria for priority workforce training identified as emerging within
Wyoming
or
that
explore and exploit emerging industry sectors
.
The commission may consult with members of the advisory council before final adoption of rules under this subsection.

(e)

In addition to subsection (d) of this section, funding under this section shall be confined to projects that connect academic and technical curriculum grounded in academic and industry standards.

(
f
)

In addition to subsection (d) of this section,
the community college commission shall
by rule and regulation
on or before July 1, 2008,
establish an application
and review
process
for funding under this section
that
:

(i)

E
nables applicants to submit
to the commission
requests for funding of workforce training and development programs under this section
commencing immediately after the adop
tion of criteria under subsection (d) of this section
and the establishment by rule of an application and review process under this subsection
;

(ii)

Provides for
a
pplication review and prioritization by members of the advisory council appointed under subsection (c) of this section;

(iii)

Require
s
applications
to be of
sufficient scope to enable the collection of information necessary to prioritize funding requests in accordance with
criteria established under
subsection
s
(d)
and (e)
of this section
;

(iv)

Specifies collaboration between the commission and the advisory council in finalizing funding recommendations and securing commission approval.

(
g
)

D
istribution of amounts appropriated under subsection (a) of this section shall be for facilities
,
equipment
and
instructor training and curriculum development costs of the prioritized training project only. No
amount appropriated under this section shall be distributed or expended for
student housing facilities or for
recurring costs
of
workforce training.

(
h
)

In consultation with the advisory council and on or before September 15, 2008, t
he community college commission shall
subject to subsection
s (e) and
(
g
) of this section,
commence
distribut
ion of
amounts appropriated under this section to
qualified applicants under this section as prioritized in accordance with criteria specified under subsection (d) of this section.
Program r
ecipients
under this section
shall be reported to the legislature
prior to commencement of the 2009 general session. In addition, t
he commission shall require each applicant to report to the commission by July 1, 2009, on the expenditure of amounts appropriated under this section, together with additional information the commission deems appropriate. The commission shall compile the reports and present the reports to the governor and to members of the joint appropriations interim committee and the joint education interim committee prior to convening of the 2010 budget session.

(
j
)

In addition to subsection (a) of this section, f
ifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the
Wyoming
community college commission to fund expenses associated with the
Wyoming
workforce training and development advisory council created under subsection (c) of this section and other costs incurred by the commission in administering this section.
This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2009.

Section 2.

(a)

Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, 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.

(b)

Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section,
S
ection 1(a) of this act is effective July 1, 2008.

(END)

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HB0028