Strategic Workforce Investment

The Strategic Workforce Investment is a draft model policy considered by ALEC's Education and Workforce Development Task Force at the Spring Task Force Summit on May 5, 2017. Due to incomplete information, it is not known if the bill passed in a vote by legislators and lobbyists at ALEC task force meetings, if ALEC sought to distance itself from the bill as the public increased scrutiny of its pay-to-play activities, or if key operative language from the bill has been introduced by an ALEC legislator in a state legislature in the ensuing period or became binding law.

ALEC Bill Text

Summary

Implements stackable credential programs involving regional educational partners from public education, technical education and higher education that meet regional workforce needs. We have already conducted two rounds of funding for stackable credential programs that meet the criteria set for this program. It is a very efficient use of funds to meet workforce needs and provides clear educational pathways with multiple entry and exit ramps that lead to jobs and reduces duplication of coursework for students.

STRATEGIC WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

53B-26-101.Title.

This chapter is known as “Strategic Workforce Investment.”

Section 2 Section 53B-26-102 is enacted to read: 53B-26-102.

Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) “College of applied technology” means: (a) a college described in Section 53B-2a-105; (b) [List colleges] (2) “CTE” means career and technical education. (3) “CTE Region” means an economic service area created in Section 35A-2-101. (4) “Eligible partnership” means a partnership: (a) between at least two of the following: (i) a college of applied technology; (ii) a school district or charter school; or (iii) an institution of higher education; and (b) that provides educational services within the same CTE region. (5) “Employer” means a private employer, public employer, industry association, the military, or a union. (6) “Industry advisory group” means: (a) a group of at least five employers that represent the strategic industry cluster that a proposal submitted under Section 53B-26-103 is responsive to; and (b) a representative of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, appointed by the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. (7) “Institution of higher education” means [list universities]. (8) “Stackable sequence of credentials” means a sequence of credentials that: (a) an individual can build upon to access an advanced job or higher wage; (b) is part of a career pathway system; (c) provides a pathway culminating in the equivalent of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree; (d) facilitates multiple exit and entry points; and (e) recognizes sub-goals or momentum points.

Section 3 Section 53B-26-103 is enacted to read: 53B-26-103.

GOED reporting requirement — Proposals — Funding. (1) The Governor’s Office of Economic Development shall publish, on a biannual basis, a report detailing the high demand technical jobs projected to support economic growth in high need strategic industry clusters, including: (a) aerospace and defense; (b) energy and natural resources; (c) financial services; (d) life sciences; (e) outdoor products; (f) software development and information technology; or (g) any other strategic industry cluster designated by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. (2) To receive funding under this section, an eligible partnership shall submit a proposal containing the elements described in Subsection (3) to the Legislature: (a) on or before July 1, 2016, for fiscal year 2017; or (b) on or before January 5 for fiscal year 2018 and any succeeding fiscal year. (3) The proposal shall include: (a) a program of study that:

(i) is responsive to the workforce needs of the CTE region in a high need strategic industry cluster as identified by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development under Subsection (1); (ii) leads to the attainment of a stackable sequence of credentials; and (iii) includes a non-duplicative progression of courses that include both academic and CTE content; (b) expected student enrollment, attainment rates, and job placement rates; (c) evidence of input and support for the proposal from an industry advisory group; (d) evidence of an official action in support of the proposal from: (i) the Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Trustees, if the eligible partnership includes a college described in Section 53B-2a-105; or (ii) the Board of Regents, if the eligible partnership includes: (A) an institution of higher education; or (B) a college described in Subsection 53B-26-102(1)(b), (c), or (d); and (e) a funding request, including justification for the request. (4) The Legislature shall: (a) review a proposal submitted under this section using the following criteria: (i) the proposal contains the elements described in Subsection (3); (ii) support for the proposal is widespread within the CTE region; and (iii) the proposal expands the capacity to meet regional workforce needs; (b) determine the extent to which to fund the proposal; and (c) fund the proposal through the appropriations process.

Section 4

Appropriation. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, the following sums of money are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts previously appropriated, out of the funds or amounts indicated. These sums of money are in addition to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2017.

Item 1 To the Department of Administrative Services – Division of Finance Mandated – Strategic Workforce Investments From Education Fund

$1,500,000 Schedule of Programs: Strategic Workforce Investments $1,500,000 The Legislature intends that appropriations under Item 1: (1) be reallocated in a future appropriations act to eligible partnerships that submit a proposal that meets the criteria described in Subsection 53B-26-103(4); and (2) under Section 63J-1-603, not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2017.