2013 -- S 0570

=======

LC01451

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HUMAN RESOURCE

INVESTMENT COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators Lynch, Gallo, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Labor

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 42-102-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-102 entitled "Rhode

1-2

Island Human Resource Investment Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     42-102-9. Powers and duties of the Rhode Island human resource investment council

1-4

-- Employment and training systems in the state. -- (a) The council shall establish statewide

1-5

policies, goals, and guidelines for the coordination of all employment and training programs and

1-6

related services, and employment-related training programs within the state, including:

1-7

      (1) The state department of labor and training programs sponsored under the Workforce

1-8

Investment Act of 1998, Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. section 49 et seq., the Trade Act of 2002

1-9

and any other employment-related educational program administered by the state department of

1-10

labor and training;

1-11

      (2) The state department of human services training programs sponsored under the

1-12

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, title IV of the Social Security Act; the Supplemental

1-13

Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program; Vocational Rehabilitation Act

1-14

of 1973 and any other employment and training and related services and employment-related

1-15

educational programs administered by the state's department of human services;

1-16

      (3) Employment and training programs sponsored under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational

1-17

Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 2301 et seq., the federal Adult Education Act, Title II of the

1-18

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and any other employment-related educational programs

1-19

administered by the board of governors for higher education, or the board of regents for

2-1

elementary and secondary education; and

2-2

      (4) All other employment and training and related services and employment-related

2-3

educational programs either presently existing or hereinafter established which are administered

2-4

by any state agencies, departments, or councils. Programs included within subdivisions (1) -- (4)

2-5

of this subsection shall be referred herein collectively as "the coordinated programs system".

2-6

Provided, however, that the responsibilities and duties of the board of governors for higher

2-7

education or the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, as set forth in the

2-8

general laws, shall not be abridged.

2-9

      (b) With respect to plans for employment and training programs sponsored under the

2-10

federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 2301 et seq., and any other

2-11

employment-related educational programs administered by the boards of governors for higher

2-12

education or the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, the council and

2-13

applicable board shall establish a process for the development and preparation of all these plans;

2-14

and the applicable board shall approve the plan subject to review and comment by the council.

2-15

      (c) With respect to plans for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program,

2-16

SNAP Employment and Training Program, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and any other

2-17

employment and training and related programs administered by the state's department of human

2-18

services, the authority and responsibilities of the department as the single state agency under

2-19

Titles IV-A, 42 U.S.C. sections 601 -- 617, and IV-F, 42 U.S.C. sections 681 -- 687 [repealed] of

2-20

the federal Social Security Act shall not be abridged.

2-21

      (d) The council shall review, comment on, or approve as appropriate all other plans for

2-22

employment and training within the coordinated programs system. The council shall establish

2-23

policies and performance goals for the coordinated programs system. These policies and goals

2-24

shall include, but not be limited to:

2-25

      (1) Establishing and communicating uniform policies;

2-26

      (2) Gathering and distributing information from and to all agencies, departments, and

2-27

councils within the coordinated programs system;

2-28

      (3) Standardizing and coordinating program planning, budgeting, and funding processes;

2-29

      (4) Recommending structural and procedural changes;

2-30

      (5) Establishing performance goals and measurements for monitoring the effectiveness

2-31

of members of the coordinated programs system;

2-32

      (6) Reconciling diverse agency, departmental, or council goals and developing priorities

2-33

among those goals; and

3-34

      (7) Producing an annual Unified Workforce Development Expenditure and Program

3-35

Report to be submitted to the General Assembly beginning January 1, 2011 and covering activity

3-36

having taken place the preceding fiscal year ending June 30th. Beginning January 1, 2013,

3-37

subsequent Unified Workforce Development Expenditure and Program Reports shall be

3-38

submitted annually on November 15. The report shall include, at a minimum, expenditures by

3-39

agencies for programs included in subdivisions 42-102-9(a)(1)(2)(3)(4), and shall show the

3-40

number of individuals served by each program, including demographic information by gender,

3-41

race and ethnicity; outcome information and such other information as may be determined by the

3-42

Human Resource Investment Council, including, but not limited to, attainment of credentials.

3-43

      (e) All state and local agencies, departments, or council or similar organizations within

3-44

the coordinated programs system shall be required to provide the council with the information

3-45

necessary to produce the Unified Workforce Development Expenditure and Program Report

3-46

described in subdivision (7) and shall otherwise cooperate with the council in the council's

3-47

exercise of its authority under subsections (b) -- (d).

3-48

      (f) The council or a sub-committee or adjunct of the council shall assume all duties and

3-49

responsibilities of the state job training coordination council required to be established pursuant

3-50

to the federal Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. section 1532 [repealed].

3-51

      (g) In addition to the specific authority provided for herein, the council shall have all

3-52

other authority necessary for effective coordination and implementation of the coordinated

3-53

programs system.

3-54

      (h) The council shall biennially develop an employment and training plan for the state to

3-55

be submitted to the governor and the general assembly commencing March 15, 2012 and

3-56

covering the subsequent two fiscal years. Beginning January 1, 2013, biennial plans shall be

3-57

submitted biennially on November 15. The biennial plan shall outline goals and objectives of the

3-58

coordinated programs system, major priorities needed for the next two (2) year period, and

3-59

policies and requirements necessary to meet those priorities. The council shall provide a funding

3-60

plan necessary to achieve system priorities and to serve the anticipated number of participants and

3-61

shall identify the general revenue funds necessary to meet program needs, taking into account

3-62

anticipated federal, private and other sources of funds. The biennial plan shall incorporate the

3-63

annual Unified Workforce Development Expenditure and Program in those years in which both

3-64

reports are due.

3-65

      (i) The council shall develop and maintain a comprehensive inventory and analysis of

3-66

workforce development activities in the state no later than December 1, 2011 to support the

3-67

biennial report in subsection 42-102-9(h). The analysis shall include, but not be limited to, an

3-68

examination of the populations being served across the different employment and training and

4-1

adult education programs across the state, the number of participants being served by these

4-2

programs, the type of services provided and the eligibility requirements of each of these

4-3

programs. The analysis shall also identify the funding sources (all sources) used in these

4-4

programs, the service providers within the state, as well as the range of services provided. The

4-5

analysis shall also examine the employer role in workforce development activities, including, but

4-6

not limited to, how employer needs are assessed, benefits employers receive for partnering with

4-7

workforce development organizations, and the role employers play in development and training.

4-8

      (j) The council shall establish and convene an advisory group to assist in the

4-9

development of the analysis that consists of stakeholders and organizations with specific

4-10

knowledge and expertise in the area of workforce development.

4-11

      (k) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish advice and information,

4-12

documentary or otherwise to the council and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the

4-13

council to facilitate the purposes of the council as defined in subsection 42-109-9(i).

4-14

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01451

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HUMAN RESOURCE

INVESTMENT COUNCIL

***

5-1

     This act would amend the reporting requirements associated with the Human Resource

5-2

Investment Council.

5-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC01451

=======