Text to be removed highlighted in red.
1 New Subdivision; Workforce Pathway Program. Amend RSA 188-F by inserting after section 69 the following new subdivision:
Workforce Pathway Program
188-F:70 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "High demand workforce credential" means a credential that is:
(a) Necessary for performing functions of an occupation based on standards developed or endorsed by employers and/or the office of professional licensure and certification.
(b) Portable and recognized by multiple employers, educational institutions, and across geographic areas where appropriate.
(c) Competency-based.
(d) Convertable, valid, and relevant in the workplace, and able to be continuously updated to workplace needs.
(e) Reviewed for articulated credit into postsecondary degree programs.
(f) Part of a career pathways framework and lead to an industry-recognized credential or a postsecondary degree.
II. "Workforce training certificate provider" means the community college system of New Hampshire, career and technical education centers, and apprenticeship programs including those recognized by the United States Department of Labor.
III. Workforce training program" means programs that are credit, noncredit, or convertible into credit through competency-based equivalency, which lead to certificate completion in not more than 6 months.
IV. "Job-entry position" means a position requiring a high school graduation and/or a certificate of completion of post-high school education.
V. "Job-ready credential" means a credential that, through education, provides a basis for future experience and education necessary for attaining higher skills, higher salaries, and increased mobility.
188-F:71 Workforce Pathway Program Established.
I. There is hereby established the workforce pathway program which shall be administered by the community college system of New Hampshire. The purpose of the workforce pathway program is to advance the skills and placement of unemployed and underemployed New Hampshire adults into high demand, job-entry positions by providing job-ready credentials through a certificate program, offered by a workforce training certificate provider, lasting no more than 6 months and at no cost to participants. The workforce pathway program shall use existing mechanisms to fill jobs in designated workforce sector priority areas, and use resources from federal Workforce Opportunity Investment Act allocated to the state, employment security job training funds under RSA 282-A:182, and community college system of New Hampshire's financial aid programs, that include qualifying students for federal Pell Awards.
II.(a) The workforce pathway program shall provide training to furloughed, laid off, dislocated, underserved, or other populations affected by COVID-19 to fill employment gaps in the state and develop short-term pre-employment training and short-term early employment training for student and workforce participants that meet the needs of businesses creating jobs and economic growth in the state.
(b) The community college system of New Hampshire, in partnership with the department of employment security, shall identify students who qualify under this subdivision.
III. The workforce pathway program shall:
(a) Partner with the department of employment security, department of economic affairs' director of workforce development, and career and technical education centers.
(b) Partner with businesses that have significant hiring demands for job-entry occupations in the state.
(c) Coordinate with the department of employment security, education agencies and providers, and employers to create effective recruitment initiatives to attract student and workforce participants and business participants to the program.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Subdivision; Workforce Pathway Program. Amend RSA 188-F by inserting after section 69 the following new subdivision:
Workforce Pathway Program
188-F:70 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "High demand workforce credential" means a credential that is:
(a) Necessary for performing functions of an occupation based on standards developed or endorsed by employers and/or the office of professional licensure and certification.
(b) Portable and recognized by multiple employers, educational institutions, and across geographic areas where appropriate.
(c) Competency-based.
(d) Convertable, valid, and relevant in the workplace, and able to be continuously updated to workplace needs.
(e) Reviewed for articulated credit into postsecondary degree programs.
(f) Part of a career pathways framework and lead to an industry-recognized credential or a postsecondary degree.
II. "Workforce training certificate provider" means the community college system of New Hampshire, career and technical education centers, and apprenticeship programs including those recognized by the United States Department of Labor.
III. Workforce training program" means programs that are credit, noncredit, or convertible into credit through competency-based equivalency, which lead to certificate completion in not more than 6 months.
IV. "Job-entry position" means a position requiring a high school graduation and/or a certificate of completion of post-high school education.
V. "Job-ready credential" means a credential that, through education, provides a basis for future experience and education necessary for attaining higher skills, higher salaries, and increased mobility.
188-F:71 Workforce Pathway Program Established.
I. There is hereby established the workforce pathway program which shall be administered by the community college system of New Hampshire. The purpose of the workforce pathway program is to advance the skills and placement of unemployed and underemployed New Hampshire adults into high demand, job-entry positions by providing job-ready credentials through a certificate program, offered by a workforce training certificate provider, lasting no more than 6 months and at no cost to participants. The workforce pathway program shall use existing mechanisms to fill jobs in designated workforce sector priority areas, and use resources from federal Workforce Opportunity Investment Act allocated to the state, employment security job training funds under RSA 282-A:182, and community college system of New Hampshire's financial aid programs, that include qualifying students for federal Pell Awards.
II.(a) The workforce pathway program shall provide training to furloughed, laid off, dislocated, underserved, or other populations affected by COVID-19 to fill employment gaps in the state and develop short-term pre-employment training and short-term early employment training for student and workforce participants that meet the needs of businesses creating jobs and economic growth in the state.
(b) The community college system of New Hampshire, in partnership with the department of employment security, shall identify students who qualify under this subdivision.
III. The workforce pathway program shall:
(a) Partner with the department of employment security, department of economic affairs' director of workforce development, and career and technical education centers.
(b) Partner with businesses that have significant hiring demands for job-entry occupations in the state.
(c) Coordinate with the department of employment security, education agencies and providers, and employers to create effective recruitment initiatives to attract student and workforce participants and business participants to the program.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.