Chapter 433

2014 – H 8266 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/03/14

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

 

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) four hundred (400) 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 Ggovernor's Wworkforce Bboard Iindustry Ppartnerships. 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 title 28 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 Ggovernor's Wworkforce Bboard. 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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LC005723/SUB A
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