SF 707

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/13/2015 08:43am

A bill for an act
relating to rural workforce development; providing for rural workforce system
coordinators; requiring reports; appropriating money for rural workforce system
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 WORKFORCE SYSTEM 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 center, except for a service
center that serves a single city, located outside of the metropolitan area, as defined
in section 473.121, subdivision 2, must have a workforce system 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 system coordinators, and with administering agencies. A workforce system
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 workforce system coordinator is responsible for:
new text end

new text begin (1) assisting existing, new, and prospective service area businesses in determining
applicable 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) assessing and compiling information about all workforce development programs
and services offered at the assigned workforce service center, including programs and
services at higher education institutions and kindergarten through grade 12 schools;
new text end

new text begin (4) making recommendations to the commissioner regarding ways to improve
coordination, possible program changes, and new workforce programs or initiatives;
new text end

new text begin (5) sharing best practices and collaborating with other workforce system 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 (6) promoting available workforce development 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 workforce system 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 coordinator
function, an accounting of workforce development 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 WORKFORCE SYSTEM 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 equal distribution for up to
nine rural workforce system coordinator positions in the workforce service areas and for
the purposes specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 116L.667.
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 from
the general fund, and $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2017
are 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 equal distribution to each
workforce service center, except for a service center that serves a single city, located outside
of the metropolitan area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2,
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,
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.
new text end