Bill Text: VA HB1289 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority; health workforce development program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Left in Health and Human Services [HB1289 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB1289-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. That the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Labor, the Department of Health Professions, the Department of Education, the Virginia Community College System, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Department of Health, the Center for Health Workforce at George Mason University, and representatives from for-profit and private not-for-profit health care providers and the regional Area Health Education Centers, shall develop an employer-led collective impact program (the program) to align, coordinate, and integrate resources and efforts across the Commonwealth to strengthen the health and health sciences workforce.
§2. The Health Workforce Highway and the Virginia Tech Talent Pipeline concepts shall serve as strategic frameworks for promoting early engagement with life sciences, rigorous and intentional course selection, experiential learning, transferable credits, and stackable credentials. The program shall allow for paid educational opportunities in order to promote career mobility.
§3. The implementation of the program shall be modeled after the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Sciences Careers program that is designed to bridge the gap between educational institutions, health care providers, and industry stakeholders, fostering a synergy that drives innovation and addresses the evolving needs of the health care sector.
§4. The purpose of the program is to create a streamlined and effective pathway for individuals pursuing careers in health sciences, ensuring that education and training are directly aligned with the current and future demands of the health care industry. The program shall emphasize practical, hands-on experience and continuous professional development, ensuring a skilled workforce that is adaptable to the rapid advancements in health care technology and practices.
§5. The program shall ensure that students receive relevant training that directly translates to the skills needed in the health and health sciences workforce. Additionally, the program shall emphasize ongoing professional development and retraining opportunities, adapting to the evolving landscape of health care technology and practices.
