Chapter 702 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

SB 175

Relating to workforce training; and appropriating money.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. Sections 2 to 5 of this 2011 Act are added to and made a part of ORS 660.300 to 660.364.

SECTION 2. (1) There is created in the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development the Oregon Employer Workforce Training Program. Subject to the availability of funding, the department shall create and operate, and local workforce investment boards shall manage, the program for the purpose of:

(a) Assisting businesses and consortia of businesses in implementing projects that identify and provide cost-effective solutions to the issues of employee training, retention and advancement;

(b) Maximizing the utilization of public and private resources for providing training to employed persons in skills that are responsive to the need of businesses and industries in Oregon to become and to remain competitive on the national and international level; and

(c) Responding to the need of workers in Oregon to develop current job skills necessary to meet the current and future needs of employers.

(2)(a) Businesses in industries identified in the plans developed by local workforce investment boards as required by ORS 660.327 are eligible to participate in projects selected for participation in the program.

(b) Priority for approval of projects submitted under this subsection shall be given to businesses in industries that have the greatest impact on the local economy and emerging green jobs.

(3) Local workforce investment boards shall:

(a) Identify businesses and consortia of businesses for potential participation in the program;

(b) Develop and implement an application process for projects proposed for the program;

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Public Contracting Code, use an open and competitive procurement process for agreements entered into with participants in the program;

(d) Require that businesses participating in a project provide private sector funding equal to the amount of state funding provided for the project; and

(e) Track and report to the department the outcomes of projects implemented in the local workforce investment area, including, but not limited to:

(A) The number of businesses participating in approved projects;

(B) The number and types of projects completed;

(C) The number of employees receiving training;

(D) The number of jobs retained or created by the businesses participating in the project; and

(E) The value of the private sector funding provided.

(4) The department shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and operation of the program created under subsection (1) of this section. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, a process by which moneys may be appropriated and allocated to the local workforce investment boards to support projects identified by the local workforce investment boards under subsection (3) of this section.

SECTION 3. The Oregon Employer Workforce Training Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Oregon Employer Workforce Training Fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development for the purposes of section 2 of this 2011 Act.

SECTION 4. (1) There is created in the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development the Oregon Youth Employment Program. Subject to the availability of funding, the department shall create and operate, and local workforce investment boards shall manage, the program to provide meaningful work experience and workforce training for persons between the ages of 14 and 24.

(2) The program shall provide to participants in the program case management and support services that include, but are not limited to:

(a) Developing an individual development plan for the participant that outlines work readiness, career and educational goals;

(b) Work readiness instruction;

(c) At least 12 weeks of paid internships or other work experience; and

(d) Academic support for earning high school graduation credit, completion of a General Educational Development (GED) certificate program or earning college credit for work experience or internships provided through the program.

(3) The program:

(a) Plan, implementation procedures and evaluation criteria shall be described in the local plan developed by a local workforce investment board under ORS 660.327.

(b) May provide for public and private sector employment opportunities.

(4) Local workforce investment boards responsible for managing the program shall ensure appropriate training and positive work experiences for participants.

(5) The department shall collaborate with the local workforce investment boards to collect data on youth work experience programs that identify successful work experiences and allow for the identification and dissemination of the most promising practices. The data collected shall also include the number of participants in the program, the number of participants that complete the program, the cost of internships and other work experiences provided, the academic credit earned by participants and the number of General Educational Development (GED) certificates earned by participants.

(6) The department shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and operation of the program created under subsection (1) of this section. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, establishing eligibility criteria for persons participating in the program.

SECTION 5. The Oregon Youth Employment Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Oregon Youth Employment Fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development for the purposes of section 4 of this 2011 Act.

Approved by the Governor August 2, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 2, 2011

Effective date January 1, 2012

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