SF 420

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/20/2015 04:02pm

A bill for an act
relating to rural workforce development; providing for rural career counseling
coordinators; requiring reports; appropriating money for rural career counseling
coordinators; appropriating money for the Minnesota youth program; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116L.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116L.667] RURAL CAREER COUNSELING COORDINATORS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Requirement. new text end

new text begin Each workforce service area located outside of the
metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, except for a service area
that serves a single city outside of the metropolitan area, must have a career counseling
coordinator who is responsible for improving coordination and communication of
workforce development programs and services within the workforce service area, with
other workforce service areas and career counseling coordinators, and with administering
agencies. A career counseling coordinator may serve as the coordinator for up to two
service areas.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Responsibilities. new text end

new text begin A career counseling coordinator is responsible for:
new text end

new text begin (1) understanding the needs of existing, new, and prospective service area businesses
in regard to workforce development programs, resources, and other services;
new text end

new text begin (2) connecting job seekers, secondary and higher education institutions, employers,
and other stakeholders and partners;
new text end

new text begin (3) providing services to job seekers including career counseling, training, and
work experience opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (4) assessing and compiling information about all workforce development programs
and services offered in the assigned workforce service area, including adult basic
education programs and programs and services at higher education institutions and
kindergarten through grade 12 schools;
new text end

new text begin (5) making recommendations to the commissioner regarding ways to improve
career counseling coordination, possible program changes, and new workforce programs
or initiatives;
new text end

new text begin (6) sharing best practices and collaborating with other career counseling coordinators
to promote and enable state-level coordination among workforce development programs
and administering agencies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Employment
and Economic Development, Education, and Labor and Industry, and the Office of Higher
Education; and
new text end

new text begin (7) promoting available workforce development and career counseling programs and
resources in the workforce service area.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reporting; consolidation. new text end

new text begin The workforce council in each of the workforce
service areas having a career counseling coordinator shall submit an annual report to
the commissioner that includes, but is not limited to, a narrative of and the number of
businesses, job seekers, and other stakeholders served by the career counseling coordinator
function, an accounting of workforce development and career counseling programs
and services offered in the assigned workforce service area, and any recommendations
for changes to workforce development efforts in the workforce service area. Beginning
January 15, 2016, and each year thereafter, the commissioner shall consolidate the reports
and submit the consolidated report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
economic development and workforce policy and finance.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin RURAL CAREER COUNSELING COORDINATORS;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $2,250,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for up to nine rural career
counseling coordinator positions in the workforce service areas and for the purposes
specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.667. The commissioner, in consultation
with local workforce investment boards and local elected officials in each of the service
areas receiving funds, shall develop a method of distributing funds to provide equitable
services across workforce service areas.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin MINNESOTA YOUTH PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are
appropriated from the general fund, and $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $3,500,000
in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from the workforce development fund, to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for the Minnesota youth
program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116L.56 and 116L.561.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of these amounts, $6,000,000 each year from the general fund and $2,000,000
each year from the workforce development fund are for workforce service areas located
outside of the metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121,
subdivision 2, except for a service area that serves a single city outside of the metropolitan
area, to provide employment and career counseling to youth, including career guidance
in local kindergarten through grade 12 schools, to address the youth career counseling
deficiency, to carry out activities outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.561,
to provide support services, and to provide work experience to youth in the workforce
service areas. The funds in this paragraph may be used for expansion of the pilot program
combining career and higher education advising in Laws 2013, chapter 85, article 3,
section 27. Activities in workforce services areas under this paragraph may serve all
youth up to age 24. The commissioner, in consultation with local workforce investment
boards and local elected officials in each of the service areas receiving funds under this
paragraph, shall develop a method of distributing funds to provide equitable services
across workforce service areas.
new text end