Revision: Feb. 8, 2021, 9:38 a.m.
Sen. Kahn, Dist 10
February 8, 2021
2021-0244s
04/05
Floor Amendment to SB 44
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire workforce pathway study commission.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 New Subdivision; New Hampshire Workforce Pathway Study Commission. Amend RSA 188-F by inserting after section 69 the following new subdivision:
New Hampshire Workforce Pathway Study Commission
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) Convertible, 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 New Hampshire Workforce Pathway Study Commission.
I. There is hereby established a New Hampshire workforce pathway study commission which shall propose an integrated model for accelerating unemployed and underemployed New Hampshire adults into job-entry positions through workforce training programs offered by a workforce training certificate provider. The member of the study commission shall be as follows:
(a) The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee.
(d) The administrator of the department of education’s bureau of career development, division of learner support, or designee.
(e) The executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or designee.
(f) The commissioner of the department of corrections, or designee.
II. The study commission shall:
(a) Identify job-entry level occupations in high demand sectors for which a high demand workforce credential can be earned in 6 months or less.
(b) Identify educational pathways to credentials for occupations in high demand sectors.
(c) Identify financial resources that will reimburse costs of certificate program providers with a goal of eliminating direct costs to unemployed and underemployed adults through new or existing federal and state funds, including but not limited to resources from federal Workforce Opportunity Investment Act, unemployment compensation funds, and community college system of New Hampshire’s financial aid programs, that include qualifying students for federal Pell Awards.
(d) Identify means to counsel unemployed and underemployed adults into high demand workforce credential programs offered by workforce training certificate providers.
(e) Identify how juveniles and adults with criminal records can access workforce training programs on the same bases as the general population while in custody of the department of corrections or county corrections and after release.
(f) Engage New Hampshire employers and sector initiative councils on how to provide more paid work opportunities to students of workforce training certificate provider.
III. The first meeting of the study commission shall be called by the chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire and shall be held within 60 days of the effective date of this section. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members at the first meeting. Four members of the study commission shall constitute a quorum.
IV. The study commission shall submit an interim report no later than December 1, 2021, and a final report no later than August 31, 2022, to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and state librarian.
2 Repeal. RSA 188-F:70 and RSA 188-F:71, relative to the New Hampshire workforce pathway study commission, are repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect September 1, 2022.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
2021-0244s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the New Hampshire workforce pathway study commission in the community college system of New Hampshire.