SF 899

2nd Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/21/2013 08:21am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring the publication of labor market information
by the Department of Employment and Economic Development; requiring
the use and dissemination of labor market information by the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities; utilizing workforce centers in assisting individuals
seeking credentials for high-demand jobs; creating a pilot project; requiring
reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 136F.37; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 116J; 116L.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.4011] LABOR MARKET INFORMATION DATA
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENT.
new text end

new text begin (a) As part of the commissioner's obligation under section 116J.401, the
commissioner must, in collaboration with the Office of Higher Education and local
workforce councils, produce and publish labor market analysis describing the alignment
between employer requirements and workforce qualifications.
new text end

new text begin (b) The analysis must include a description of job trends that supports career choice
and job seeking including:
new text end

new text begin (1) measures of current job growth, projected future job growth, and current job
vacancies;
new text end

new text begin (2) a breakdown of these measures, whenever feasible, by industry, occupation,
statewide and substate region, by educational requirement, state employee retirement
trends, and by racial trends;
new text end

new text begin (3) a description of industry- or occupation-based credentials and minimum
educational standards necessary for successful employment in each area; and
new text end

new text begin (4) a designation of areas of opportunity based on high growth, high vacancy, and
high pay conditions.
new text end

new text begin (c) The analysis must include a description of workforce supply and quality,
including:
new text end

new text begin (1) a description of the current educational attainment of the workforce and its
distribution across industries, occupations, and regions;
new text end

new text begin (2) the number and distribution of recent graduates of and current enrollees in
postsecondary institutions by academic concentration or major and by credential type; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the completion rate, employment outcome, and average debt for recent
postsecondary graduates by program of study, institution type, and credential.
new text end

new text begin (d) The analysis must be reviewed on a regular basis by representatives from the
business and postsecondary sectors, and any feedback should be incorporated into data
collection and presentation where feasible. This feedback may also include surveys of
employers on their skill, credential, and other workforce requirements when necessary.
new text end

new text begin (e) Analysis, data, and reports required by this section must be easily accessible, easily
readable, and prominently presented on the Department of Employment and Economic
Development Web site and Web sites of workforce centers. Information on job vacancies
and areas of potential employment opportunities should link to educational or credential
requirements, appropriate training or educational offerings, prevailing wages, and other
indicators of market conditions deemed important to career choosers and job seekers.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [116L.191] WORKFORCE CENTER; CREDENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall provide at local workforce centers services that
assist individuals in identifying and obtaining industry-recognized credentials for jobs,
particularly jobs in high demand. The workforce centers must consult and cooperate
with training institutions, particularly postsecondary institutions to identify credential
programs to individuals.
new text end

new text begin (b) Each workforce center shall provide information under section 116J.4011,
paragraph (b), clause (3), linked as a shortcut from the desktop of each workforce center
computer and available in hard copy. Prominent signs should be posted in workforce
centers directing individuals to where they can find a list of top job vacancies and related
credential information.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 136F.37, is amended to read:

136F.37 JOB PLACEMENT IMPACT ON PROGRAM REVIEW;
INFORMATION TO STUDENTS.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Colleges; technical occupational program. new text end

The board must
assess labor market data when conducting college program reviews. Colleges must
provide prospective students with the job placement rate for graduates of technical and
occupational programs offered at the colleges.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin DEED labor market survey; MnSCU usage and disclosure. new text end

new text begin The data
assessed under subdivision 1 must include labor market data compiled by the Department
of Employment and Economic Development under section 116J.4011. The board and its
colleges and universities must use this market data when deciding upon course and program
offerings. The board must provide a link to this labor market data on its Internet portal.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin PILOT PROGRAMS; COMBINING CAREER AND HIGHER
EDUCATION ADVISING.
new text end

new text begin The workforce council in each of the workforce service areas of Hennepin/Carver,
Northeast Minnesota, Stearns/Benton, and rural Minnesota CEP must with at least one
public school district in its service area, cooperate in operating a program to assist high
school students in selecting careers of interest to a student and a postsecondary path to
prepare for that career. The local workforce council shall individually advise a student on
jobs in high demand in areas of interest to a student. Advising must include information
on various career paths and associated jobs, the salary profile of those jobs, and the
credentials and other training desired by employers for those jobs. A district may assist
the local workforce council by, among other activities:
new text end

new text begin (1) describing to the local workforce council what kind of vocational exploration the
student already received;
new text end

new text begin (2) identifying opportunities for the council to assist students by providing office
space at school to meet with students, access to assemblies and other groups for testing
and career exploration, access to teachers through in-service and in other manners, to
support students to use a pilot program; and
new text end

new text begin (3) working with students after testing and advising by the local workforce council.
new text end