2014 -- H 8266

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LC005723

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HUMAN

RESOURCES INVESTMENT COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Lima, Messier, Shekarchi, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: May 29, 2014

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-102-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-102 entitled "Rhode

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

     42-102-11. State Work Immersion Program. -- (a) (1) The council shall develop a state

work immersion program and a non-trade apprenticeship program. For the purposes of this

section work immersion shall mean a temporary, paid work experience that provides a

meaningful learning opportunity and increases the employability of the participant. The programs

shall be designed in order to provide post-secondary school students, recent college graduates and

unemployed adults with a meaningful work experience, and to assist businesses by training

individuals for potential employment.

      (2) Funding for the work immersion program will be allocated from the job development

fund account and/or from funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act. Appropriated funds

will match investments made by businesses employers in providing meaningful work immersion

positions and non-trade apprenticeships.

      (b) For each participant in the work immersion program, the program shall reimburse

eligible businesses employers up to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of not more than two hundred

(200) hours of work experience and during a period of ten (10) weeks. If an eligible business

hires a program participant at the completion of such a program, the state may provide

reimbursement for a total of seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost of the work immersion

position.

      (c) The council shall create a non-trade apprenticeship program and annually award

funding on a competitive basis to at least one new initiative proposed and operated by the

Governor's Workforce Board Industry Partnerships. This program shall meet the standards of

apprenticeship programs defined pursuant to section 28-45-9 of the general laws. The council

shall present the program to the State Apprenticeship Council, established pursuant to chapter 28-

45 of the general laws, for review and consideration.

      (d) An eligible participant in programs established in subsections (b) and (c) must be at

least eighteen (18) years of age and must be a Rhode Island resident. Provided, however, any

non-Rhode Island resident, who is enrolled in a college or university located in Rhode Island, is

eligible to participate while enrolled at the college or university.

      (e) In order to fully implement the provisions of this section, the council is authorized to

promulgate rules and regulations. In developing rules and regulations, the council shall consult

with the Governor's Workforce Board. The rules and regulations shall define eligible businesses

employers that can participate in the programs created by this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HUMAN

RESOURCES INVESTMENT COUNCIL

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     This act would make a minor revision to the state work immersion program to include

recent college graduates.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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