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HB0156 • 2020

Wyoming intern challenge trust fund.

AN ACT relating to workforce development; creating the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund; authorizing distribution of investment earnings for workforce development programs; requiring rulemaking; conforming provisions; authorizing a contract position; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Education Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Henderson
Last action
2020-02-13
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it does not have an effective date.

Wyoming Intern Challenge Trust Fund Act

This act creates the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund and authorizes distribution of investment earnings for workforce development programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund to support workforce preparation opportunities for high school and postsecondary students in Wyoming.
  • Authorizes the state treasurer to invest money from the trust fund and accept donations.
  • Requires that earnings from the trust fund be used for specific workforce development activities, such as internships and job training programs.
  • Establishes rules for how the department of workforce services will manage the trust fund and distribute funds.
  • Appropriates one million dollars to start the trust fund.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school and postsecondary students in Wyoming who can participate in internships funded by the trust fund.
  • Employers in Wyoming who partner with schools or training programs for internships.
  • The department of workforce services, which will manage the trust fund and distribute funds.

Terms To Know

Trust Fund
A special account where money is kept to be used only for a specific purpose, like funding internships in this case.
Workforce Development
Programs and activities that help people get the skills they need to find jobs or improve their careers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it does not have an effective date.
  • It is unclear how much money will be available for internships beyond the initial one million dollar appropriation.
  • Details about specific rules and procedures are left to future rulemaking by the department of workforce services.

Bill History

  1. 2020-02-13 House

    H Failed Introduction 26-33-1-0-0

  2. 2020-02-11 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2020-02-10 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0517
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0517
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0156

Wyoming intern challenge trust fund.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Henderson, Crank and Lindholm and Senator(s) Kost and Nethercott

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to workforce development; creating the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund; authorizing distribution of investment earnings for workforce development programs; requiring rulemaking; conforming provisions; authorizing a contract position; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2612 is created to read:

9
‑
2
‑
2612.

Wyoming intern challenge trust fund
;
workforce development programs.

(a)

The Wyoming intern challenge trust fund is created. The state treasurer shall invest the fund in accordance with law. The state treasurer is authorized to accept cash gifts to be deposited into the trust fund. Monies deposited to the fund from any source are intended to be inviolate and constitute a permanent or perpetual trust fund.

(b)

The state treasurer shall credit earnings from the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund to a separate account. The earnings in the separate account are continuously appropriated to the department of workforce services to be expended, subject to available funding, only for the following purposes:

(i)

To provide funding to public and private entities for workforce preparation opportunities that match Wyoming employers with Wyoming high school and postsecondary students. Any funding provided to a receiving entity under this paragraph shall:

(A)

Be matched equally by the receiving entity for every dollar provided under this section;

(B)

Not exceed six hundred forty (640) internship hours for each intern, nor a maximum amount of eleven thousand dollars ($11,000.00) in state funding for each intern placed;

(C)

Be provided in accordance with a contract between the department of workforce services and the receiving entity that ensures the intern placed receives reasonable compensation for the services rendered. For a receiving entity not under the absolute control of the state, the contract shall also ensure the state receives adequate consideration for the amount of funding provided.

(ii)

To provide funding to enable the participation of Wyoming residents in workforce partnership opportunities, including credential or noncredential internships, job shadowing and workforce development services designed to train, retrain or upgrade work skills;

(iii)

To provide funding for other workforce development activities in Wyoming administered by the department of workforce services recommended by the director with the approval of the governor;

(iv)

For development and distribution of materials by the department of workforce services designed to promote intern partnerships in high priority sectors, such as health care, construction, financial industries and technical industries and other workforce education opportunities and services under this section;

(v)

To pay reasonable administrative costs that the department of workforce services incurs associated with administering opportunities and services under this section.

(c)

Expenditures under paragraphs (b)(i) through (iii) of this section shall be approved or disapproved by the director of the department of workforce services based
on appropriate procedures, criteria and performance measures established in rule.

(d)

The director of the department of workforce services shall report annually to the governor, the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee, the joint labor, health and social services interim committee and the Wyoming workforce development council on expenditures made under this section in the preceding fiscal year and the results of the activities funded.

Section 2.

W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2601(d) and (g)(vii) is amended to read:

9
‑
2
‑
2601.

Department of workforce services; duties and responsibilities; agreements with other agencies authorized; definition; merger with department of employment.

(d)

The department shall administer expenditures from the
:

(i)

W
orkforce development training fund as provided in W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2604
;
. The department shall administer expenditures from the

(ii)

Wyoming workforce development
‑
priority economic sector partnership subaccount within the economic diversification account as provided in W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2609 through 9
‑
2
‑
2611 and 9
‑
12
‑
1404
;
.

(iii)

Earnings from the Wyoming intern challenge trust fund as provided in W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2612.

(g)

The department shall take appropriate steps to:

(vii)

Administer contracts pursuant to W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2608
and 9
‑
2
‑
2609
through
9
‑
2
‑
2611
9
‑
2
‑
2612
.

Section 3.

(a)

There is appropriated one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) from the general fund to the Wyoming
intern
challenge
trust fund created under W.S. 9‑2‑2612. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008 and 9
‑
4
‑
207, this appropriation shall not lapse or revert at the end of any fiscal period except upon further legislative action.

(b)

There is appropriated one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) from the general fund to the department of workforce services. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2021. This appropriation shall only be expended to fund one (1) at
‑
will contract employee for the purposes of this act. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2021. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in any future budget request of the department of workforce services.

Section 4.

(a)

On or before January 1, 2021, the department of workforce services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this act.

(b)

Subject to available funding, on or before January 1, 2021, the department of workforce services shall begin providing authorized opportunities and services under this act.

Section 5.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0156