2014 -- H 8204 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Mattiello, DeSimone, MacBeth, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: May 15, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-45.1-1 and 16-45.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-45.1

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entitled "Career and Technical Education" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-45.1-1. Findings. -- The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

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      (1) The Rhode Island economy will benefit from a highly skilled workforce;

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      (2) Career and technical education must be informed by the needs of local businesses

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industries and employers, in creating, growing, and locating employment opportunities for job

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seekers with the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities desired by employers;

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      (3) Career and technical education should provide an integrated career pathway system

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to respond to the needs of businesses, small and large, as well as innovative and emerging

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industries; and

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      (4) Based upon the current and future demands for a highly skilled workforce, career and

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technical education should provide a foundation for students to succeed in career and/or higher

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education opportunities.

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     (5) There is a need to establish a coordinated and comprehensive system of career and

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technical education for students within the state with a focus on coordination, efficiencies, quality

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of program offerings, and outcomes throughout the state.

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     (6) There is a need to establish a robust, student-based system of career and technical

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education that provides a blend of rigorous academics and the skills, training, and credentials

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necessary for workplace success. Therefore, effective January 30, 2015, there is hereby

 

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established a Rhode Island career and technical board of trustees to be known as the Rhode Island

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board of trustees on career and technical education. Effective January 15, 2015, there is hereby

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created a not-for-profit organization known as the CTE trust.

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     16-45.1-2. Career and technical education system. -- (a) The board of regents of

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education shall establish and maintain a system of career and technical education that maintains

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ongoing connections with higher education and meets the needs of local business and industry,

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and promotes workforce development.

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     (b) The board of education shall also create, subject to §§ 16-45.1-1 and 16-45.1-2(a), a

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career and technical board of trustees that shall be responsible for ensuring a comprehensive and

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coordinated career and technical system with the state of Rhode Island.

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     SECTION 2. Sections 16-53-1, 16-53-2, 16-53-4, 16-53-5 and 16-53-6 of the General

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Laws in Chapter 16-53 entitled "Rhode Island State Advisory Council for Technical Vocational

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Education" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-53-1. Council established. Board established. -- (a) There Effective January 30,

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2015, there is hereby established a permanent committee to be known as the Rhode Island state

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advisory council on vocational education, hereinafter referred to as the council. Rhode Island

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board of trustees on career and technical education hereinafter referred to as the "board of

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trustees."

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     (b) Effective January 30, 2015, all powers, rights, obligations, and duties of the Rhode

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Island state advisory council on vocational education shall be transferred to the Rhode Island

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board of trustees on career and technical education.

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     16-53-2. Composition of council. - Composition of board of trustees. -- (a) The

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council board of trustees shall be composed of thirteen (13) fifteen (15) members appointed by

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the governor in staggered terms; all the members shall serve until their successors are appointed

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and qualified., except as otherwise provided for in subsection (b) of this section. In the month of

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March, the governor shall appoint members to succeed the members whose term will then next

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expire for a term of three (3) years commencing on the first day of July then next following and

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until the successor is named and qualified. A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or

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herself. A vacancy other than by expiration shall be filled in the same manner as an original

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appointment but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

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      (b) The membership of the council shall consist of: fifteen (15) members of the board of

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trustees shall be limited to nine (9) consecutive years of service and shall consist of:

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      (1) Seven (7) Nine (9) individuals who are representative of the private employment

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sector in the following manner: state who shall constitute a majority of the membership:

 

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      (i) Five (5) of whom shall be representative of business, industry, and agriculture

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including:

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      (A) One member who is representative of small business concerns; and

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      (B) One member who is a private sector member of the state job training coordinating

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council (established pursuant to section 122 of the Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C section

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1532); and

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     (ii) Two (2) of whom shall be representatives of labor organizations;

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     (A) Two (2) members who are representatives of general business concerns;

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     (B) One member who is a representative of small business concerns;

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     (C) One member who is a private sector member of the governor's workforce board, or

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the Rhode Island workforce investment board or state job training coordinating council

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(established pursuant to section 122 of the Job Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. 1532); and

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     (D) One member who is a representative of the CTE trust established pursuant to this

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chapter;

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     (ii) Two (2) members who are representatives of labor organizations, one of whom must

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be a career and technical teacher; and

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     (iii) Two (2) members from trade associations representing employers in the state.

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     (2) Six (6) Five (5) individuals who are representative of secondary and postsecondary

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vocational educational institutions including: (equitably distributed among those institutions),

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career guidance and counseling organizations within the state, individuals who have special

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knowledge and qualifications with respect to the special educational and career development

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needs of special populations (including women, the disadvantaged, individuals with disabilities,

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individuals with limited English proficiency, and minorities) and of whom one member shall be

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representative of special education.

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     (i) One member who is a representative of the Rhode Island association of school

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superintendents;

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     (ii) One member who is a representative or the director of career and technical education

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programs and/or facilities;

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     (iii) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or his/her designee:

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     (iv) The commissioner of higher education, or his/her designee: and

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     (v) One member who is a representative of adult education and skills training.

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     (3) The secretary of commerce or his/her designee shall be the fifteenth (15th) member ex

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officio.

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      (c) In selecting individuals to serve on the state council, board, due consideration shall

 

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be given to the appointment of individuals who serve on a private industry council under the Job

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Training Partnership Act (established pursuant to 29 U.S.C. section 1512), or on state councils

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established under other related federal acts.

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      (d) Members of the council board of trustees may not represent more than one of the

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above specified categories;, and there shall be appropriate representation of both sexes, racial, and

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ethnic minorities, and the various geographic regions of the state.

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      (e) The state shall certify the establishment and membership of the state council board of

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trustees at least ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each planning period described in

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section 113(a)(1) of United States Public Law 98-524, 20 U.S.C. section 2323(a)(1).

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     16-53-4. Qualifications of members. -- Each appointed member of the council, board of

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trustees, before entering upon his or her duties, shall take an oath to administer the duties of his or

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her office faithfully and impartially, and the oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of

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state.

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     16-53-5. Officers of the council. –Officers of the board of trustees. -- The officers of

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the council board of trustees shall be a chairperson, appointed by the governor, who shall be a

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representative of the private sector and vice chairperson elected from the membership. Officers

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shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the council board of trustees members; a majority

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of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum. Upon allocation of designated state funding

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for the purpose of supporting the board of trustees' duties and activities;, the council board of

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trustees is authorized to obtain, or to contract for, any services that may be necessary to enable it

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to carry out its duties. A majority vote of those present shall be required for action.

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     16-53-6. Expenses of members. -- The members of the council board of trustees shall

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serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses necessarily incurred in the

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performance of their duties in accordance with state law, regulations, and practices.

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     SECTION 3. Section 16-53-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-53 entitled "Rhode

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Island State Advisory Council for Technical Vocational Education" is hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     16-53-3. Functions and responsibilities.-- Duties and responsibilities. -- (a) The

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council board of trustees shall:

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      (1) Meet with the board of regents for elementary and secondary education or its

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representatives during the planning year to advise on the development of the state plan; Advise

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the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the board of education on the

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development of a biannual state plan for career and technical education;

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      (2) Advise the board of regents commissioner of elementary and secondary education so

 

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that he/she may and make reports to the governor, the business community, and general public of

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the state, concerning:

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      (i) Policies the state should pursue to strengthen vocational career and technical

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education; (with particular attention to programs for individuals with disabilities); and

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      (ii) Initiatives and methods the private sector could undertake to assist in the

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modernization of vocational career and technical education programs;

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      (3) Analyze and report on the (iii) The distribution of spending for vocational career and

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technical education in the state and on the availability of vocational career and technical

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education activities and services within the state; and

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     (iv) The integration and coordination of the various policies and procedures involving

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career and technical education.

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      (4) (3) Furnish consultation to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education

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and the board of education of regents on the establishment of evaluation criteria and processes for

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vocational career and technical education programs within the state; as they pertain to:

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     (i) The establishment, continuation, and discontinuation of career preparation programs;

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     (ii) Incentives that promote and reward program excellence on the basis of performance;

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     (iii) Incentives that emphasize the needs of business and labor organizations;

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     (iv) Instructor preparation and qualifications in the areas of industry credentialing,

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development opportunities, and relevant field-based experiences;

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     (v) The integration of academic and technical instruction and skill attainment in career

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preparation programs; and

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     (vi) The management and distribution of state funding allocated for the express purpose

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of establishing or improving career preparation program model sites.

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      (5) Submit recommendations to the board of regents on the conduct of vocational

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education programs conducted in the state which emphasize the use of business concerns and

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labor organizations;

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      (6) (4) Assess Provide advice and consent on the policy principles and goals that govern

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the distribution of financial assistance furnished under this chapter, particularly with the analysis

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of the distribution of financial assistance between secondary vocational career and technical

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education programs and postsecondary vocational career and technical education programs;

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     (5) Report annually to the board of education on topics that include:

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     (7) Recommend (i) Recommended procedures to the board of regents ensure and enhance

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the participation of the public in the provision of vocational career and technical education at the

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local level within the state, particularly the participation of local employers and local labor

 

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organizations; and

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      (8) Report to the board of regents on the (ii) The extent to which the individuals

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described in former section 201(b) of United States Public Law 98-524, 20 U.S.C. section

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2331(b), are provided with equal access to quality vocational career and technical education

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programs;

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      (9) (i) (6) Evaluate Furnish consultation to the commissioner of elementary and

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secondary education to evaluate, at least once every two (2) years, the vocational career and

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technical education program delivery systems assisted under this chapter, and under the Job

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Training Partnership Act, 29 U.S.C. section 1501 et seq., in terms of their adequacy and

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effectiveness in achieving the purposes of each of the two (2) acts, and make recommendations to

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the state board on the adequacy and effectiveness of the coordination that takes place between

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vocational education and the Job Training Partnership Act; and

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      (ii) Advise the governor, the board of regents, the state job training coordinating council,

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the United States secretary of education, and the United States secretary of labor of these findings

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and recommendations; and make recommendations to stakeholders on the adequacy and

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effectiveness of the coordination between career and technical education and the workforce

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demands of the Rhode Island economy and post-secondary workforce development;

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      (10) (7) Comply with all federal statutes, requirements, regulations, and guidelines, and

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in particular, United States Public Law 98-524 and any amendments to it.;

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     (8) Establish, support, and expand private sector participation programs that enhance

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career and technical education at the local level within the state, particularly the participation of

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local employers and local labor organizations in providing funding, equipment, training,

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apprenticeships, work-study programs, and other services that will enhance student experiences.

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      (9) Subject to the approval of the board of education, assume management and

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jurisdiction of state-owned and operated career and technical schools, at the request of the

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governing body of the school with a consultation from the executive director of the state-owned

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school, and assume management of such other career and technical schools as agreed to by local

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education districts and with a recommendation from the superintendent of schools.

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      (b) In the event that the governing board of a state-owned and operated career and

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technical school, or a local education agency in accordance with § 16-53-3(a)(8), requests the

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board of trustees to assume management and jurisdiction of its career and technical school, then

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the board of education may assign the care management and responsibility of career and technical

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facilities to the board of trustees for the express purpose of providing coordinated career and

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technical educational services. Prior to the assignment of the care, management, and

 

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responsibility of the school, the trustees shall prepare a plan that shall examine and make

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recommendations over the:

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     (1) Management of the career and technical school, including, but not limited to:

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     (i) Including how the conversion from a separate school facility to a statewide system

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will impact:

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     (A) Personnel;

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     (B) Labor agreements, including existing collective bargaining agreements;

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     (C) Contractual obligations outside of labor agreements;

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     (D) Management structure;

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     (E) Program offerings;

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     (F) Admission policies;

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     (G) Facilities; and

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     (H) Other items as requested by RIDE or the board of education.

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     (2) Management of other state owned facilities for the sole purpose of offering career and

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technical programs; and

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     (3) Method of assuming ownership and management of career and technical facilities

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within the state that were transferred, including the integration of programs, curriculum,

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offerings, and the relationship of matching academic requirements to career and technical

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education to enhance student outcomes.

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     (c) In the event the board of trustees assumes responsibility pursuant to § 16-53-3(b), the

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board of trustees shall act with the same authority as a local school committee.

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     (d) In the event the board of trustees assumes responsibility pursuant to § 16-53-3(a)(8),

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the board of trustees shall recognize the collective bargaining representatives of all affected

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employees in each collective bargaining unit and shall recognize the collective bargaining

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agreements in effect for all affected employees.

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     SECTION 4. Chapter 16-53 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island State Advisory

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Council for Technical Vocational Education" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

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sections:

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     16-53-7.1. Trustee funding. -- The trustees shall be supported by funding to provide for

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the initiation and start-up of the trustees, and for any ongoing expenses.

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     16-53-8. Creation of career and technical education trust. -- (a) Rhode Island CTE

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trust established. – Effective January 15, 2015, there is hereby created a permanent, not-for- profit

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corporation to be known as the Rhode Island CTE trust on career and technical education.

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     (b) Composition of the CTE trust. The power of the trust shall be vested in nine (9)

 

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members appointed originally by the governor in staggered terms. All the members shall serve

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until their successors are appointed and qualified. After the original appointments, the CTE trust

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shall have authority to appoint successors to fill terms for seven (7) of the members set forth in

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subsection (d)(1) of this section.

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     (c) The CTE trust shall coordinate with, but shall remain independent from, both RIDE

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and the board of education.

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     (d) The membership of the CTE trust shall be as follows:

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     (1) Seven (7) individuals who are representative of the private sector in the state who

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shall constitute a majority of the membership. From among this group, five (5) members shall be

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representative of business, industry, and agriculture, including, but not limited to:

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     (i) At least one representative from the various trades that are performed in the state; and

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     (ii) At least one representative from any trade association representing various career and

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technical education career clusters established by the U.S. Department of Education.

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     (2) The secretary of commerce for Rhode Island; and

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     (3) A member of the governor's workforce training board, appointed by the governor.

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The governor shall make the reappointment to this position.

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     (e) A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself.

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     (f) The governor shall make all appointments to the CTE trust on or before January 15,

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2015.

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     16-53-9. Functions and responsibilities of the career and technical education trust.--

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     The trust shall:

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     (1) Create partnerships with various employers to provide for internships, apprenticeship

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programs, voluntary work relationships, and other such partnerships that provide for student

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learning:

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     (2) Provide advisory assistance to the board of trustees in the development of programs,

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curriculum, areas of focus, and concentration:

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     (3) Raise funds for the use of the organization to provide grants and loans to the state

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board and for other purposes as determined by the private board: and

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     (4) Provide any other assistance to the state board, board of education, or to the general

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assembly.

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     16-53-10. Trust debts and obligations. -- Debts and obligations of the CTE trust shall

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not be or constitute a debt of the state, or any department, municipality, or subdivision thereof.

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     16-53-11. Career and technical trust. - Responsibility. – The state of Rhode Island is

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not responsible for the career and technical trust.

 

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     16-53-12. Trust gifts, grants and donations. -- The trust is authorized to receive any

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gifts, grants, or donations made for any of the purposes of its program, including state and federal

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funds, and to disburse and administer the gifts, grants, or donations in accordance with its terms,

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subject to applicable law.

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     SECTION 5. Section 3 of this act shall take effect on January 30, 2015 except §§ 16-53-

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3(a)(9), 16-53-3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) of Section 3 which shall take effect January 1, 2016. The

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remainder of this act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

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     This act would establish a new permanent Rhode Island board of trustees on career and

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technical education, which would assume and expand upon the duties of the former Rhode Island

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state advisory council on vocational education. The board may take control over a career and

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technical high school at the request of a school board serviced by the school. The act would also

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create the Rhode Island CTE trust on career and technical education to help raise funds for and to

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promote partnerships to provide for student learning in career and technical education.

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     Section 3 of this act would take effect on January 30, 2015. The remainder of this act

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would take effect upon passage.

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