Revision: Jan. 9, 2023, 10:09 a.m.
2023 SESSION
23-0830.0
10/05
SENATE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT relative to New Hampshire workforce training programs.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of education to establish a marine trades pathway at a regional career technology center, establishes a career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund, and establishes an offshore wind industry workforce training center committee in the department of business and economic affairs.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0830.0
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to New Hampshire workforce training programs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Department of Education; Career and Technical Education; Regional Programs; New Hampshire Workforce Training; Funding.
I. The department of education shall establish a marine trades pathway at a regional career technology center, upon application from a regional technology center demonstrating need for workforce development, and planning for any funding needed for space, equipment, and instructional time. The proposal shall include coordination and participation of businesses and industries related to marine trades.
II. The commissioner of the department of education shall increase the project fund reserve in New Hampshire state plan under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) to 15 percent to support program development and other grants.
2 New Subdivision; Workforce Development and Innovation Fund. Amend RSA 188-E by inserting after section 29 the following new subdivision:
Workforce Development and Innovation Fund.
188-E:30 Workforce Development and Innovation Fund Established.
I. There is established a non-lapsing fund in the department of education to be known as the career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund.
II. The fund may include the commissioner of education’s project fund reserve under the New Hampshire state plan, state appropriations designated for the purposes of the fund, federal and other grants, contributions from businesses and industries, and any other sources. The commissioner of education shall determine which resources will be placed in the fund and is authorized to establish procedures for use of the funds and to disburse funds.
III. The commissioner shall consult with the Business and Industry Association, the labor department, CTE directors, the community college system of New Hampshire, CTE sector partners, and others, on workforce needs that can be met through innovative programming and program expansion at the career and technical education centers, and through partnerships with business and industry, the community college system of New Hampshire, union training and apprenticeship programs, and other entities offering workforce training partnerships. Program expansion may include emerging industries, such as the offshore wind industry and other renewable energy industries.
IV. The commissioner shall report annually by November 1 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairs of the house and senate education committees, and the chair of the career and technical education advisory council on the fund’s income and expenditures.
3 New Section; Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee. Amend RSA 12-O by inserting after section 51 the following new section:
12-O:51-a Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee.
I. The offshore wind industry workforce training center committee is established in the department of business and economic affairs. The committee shall consist of:
(a) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the labor department, or designee.
(d) The executive director of fish and game department, or designee for marine programs.
(e) A representative of the New Hampshire coastal program under RSA 485-I, appointed by the commissioner of environmental services.
(f) Two representatives of public utilities, selected by the utilities.
(g) Three representatives of organized labor, selected by the commissioner of labor upon recommendation by organized labor.
(h) The president of Great Bay community college, or designee.
(i) The department of education CTE director.
(j) The director of the New Hampshire port authority.
(k) The director of the office of offshore wind industry under RSA 12-P:7.
(l) A representative of the Portsmouth Collaborative Chamber of Commerce.
(m) The President of Granite Shore Power, or designee.
II. The committee shall examine workforce needs of the Gulf of Maine offshore wind industry, and shall make recommendations on workforce training, including coordination of programs with union and other apprentice and workforce training programs. The committee shall study the need to build and staff an offshore wind industry workforce training center convenient to the Port of Portsmouth, including high need fields such as electricians and welders. The study shall include a plan for inclusion of the seacoast region career and technical education centers, Great Bay community college, and union apprenticeship and training programs. The study shall include a consideration of lease or capital expenditures for facilities, equipment, instructional costs, and transportation costs for students from seacoast region career and technical education centers. The committee shall study criteria for agreements of partners and for the use of any funding available from the career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund established in RSA 188-E:30, state appropriations, federal funding and grants, the offshore wind industry, unions, or other sources.
III. The committee shall report annually by November 1 to the governor, the chair of the New Hampshire offshore wind and port development commission under RSA 374-F:10, and the president of the Business and Industry Association.
4 New Subparagraph; Application of Receipts; Dedicated Funds. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (387) the following new subparagraph:
(388) Moneys deposited in the career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund established in RSA 188-E:30.