Bill Text: CT HB06430 | 2013 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Establishing A Regional Council To Support Workforce Development.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-15 - Public Hearing 03/19 [HB06430 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2013-HB06430-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 6430
January Session, 2013		LCO No. 3248
		*03248_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL COUNCIL TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) For purposes of this section: (1) "Early college high school" means a school in which low-income youth, first-generation college goers, English language learners, students of color and other persons who are underrepresented in higher education may simultaneously earn, tuition free, a high school diploma and an associate degree or up to two years of credit toward a bachelor degree; and (2) "middle college program" means a collaboration between a school district's high schools and a regional-community technical college pursuant to which a student who desires a more independent learning environment may (A) take a combination of core high school courses and courses for which college or university-level credit may be given, and (B) attribute any such credits earned toward a program of higher learning at an institution of high education in which such student enrolls upon graduation from the middle college program.

(b) The Office of Workforce Competitiveness, in consultation with Capital Workforce Partners, a regional workforce development board established pursuant to section 31-3k of the general statutes, shall establish a regional council of educators, workforce development boards and agencies, business leaders and civic officials to encourage collaboration among leaders in early childhood education, primary and secondary education, higher education and workforce training, to develop an effective education and career pathway that maximizes the number of skilled persons in this state with a postsecondary degree or other credentials necessary for employment. The purpose of such regional council shall be the alignment of education with workforce needs.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2015, the regional council established under subsection (b) of this section shall develop a strategic plan for better meeting the needs of current and future employers by aligning such needs with technical high school and higher education programs, including, but not limited to, career pathway programs offered by the regional community-technical colleges. In developing the strategic plan, the regional council shall consider the following: (1) Career academies and growth clusters; (2) high school skill attainment and strategies for measuring attainment; (3) alternative methods for measuring student growth and competency; (4) small learning centers and academies for students who are considered hard to serve; (5) career development and planning in high schools; (6) alternative pathways to higher education; (7) improvements to adult education and literacy programming; (8) early college high schools; (9) licensure and accreditation of community and technical colleges; and (10) how best to assist municipalities with high unemployment rates in early targeting of students in grades six through twelve who may benefit from a middle college program or from alignment with the technical high school system. Not later than January 1, 2014, the regional council shall report on the development of the strategic plan, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2013	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To support Connecticut's jobs agenda and focus on state investments and alignment to better meet the state's workforce development outcomes and to further develop a regional action plan to align comprehensive early childhood, primary and secondary school programs with programs of higher education and workforce needs.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]