1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:22am
A bill for an act
relating to economic development; providing for local collaborative projects to
deliver employment, training, and education services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The Department
of Employment and Economic Development, the governor's Workforce Development
Council, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education with respect
to K-12 institutions and adult basic education, the University of Minnesota, and the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system shall cooperate with the collaborative
local projects created by this section to achieve the goals in subdivision 2 with respect
to employment, training, and education programs administered by those agencies and
systems.
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The goals of state
workforce employment, training, and education include, but are not limited to:
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(1) engage low-skilled workers in increasing their skill levels;
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(2) provide skill training while upgrading basic skill levels;
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(3) improve the provision of skill training to individuals currently working;
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(4) integrate employer contact efforts to improve responsiveness to employer's needs;
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(5) strengthen employer input with training curriculum;
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(6) improve access to service and training to public assistance recipients;
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(7) integrate career planning and job placement efforts among institutions;
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(8) maximize coordination and reduce duplication among providers;
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(9) systematically evaluate industry training needs; and
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(10) provide noncredit remediation at no cost to students.
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By August 1, 2009, at least four local
collaboration projects must be established by the commissioner of employment and
economic development involving employment, training, and education programs offered
by the state agencies and systems described in subdivision 1. All the agencies and systems
must cooperate in the local projects. One local project each must be located in a suburban
workforce services area, an urban workforce services area, a greater Minnesota regional
center workforce services area, and a rural workforce services area.
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Each local project must develop a plan on how
employment, training, and education services offered by the collaborating state agencies
and systems can be collaboratively offered to attain the goals of subdivision 2. The
plan must be developed through a stakeholder process that includes, at a minimum,
representatives from:
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(1) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities;
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(2) local adult basic education;
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(3) workforce centers;
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(4) local school districts;
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(5) community action agencies; and
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(6) public housing agencies.
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The commissioner of employment and economic development must provide a report
to the legislature by January 15, 2010, that includes each of the local project plans along
with recommendations regarding other agency and system programs and services that
should be integrated into a local project. The report may also include recommendations
concerning the enhancement and improvement of service and the process, private and
public funding, waivers, and modifications necessary to better achieve the goals of
subdivision 2.
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Each local collaborative project must begin to
implement its plan no later than July 1, 2010, and continuing through July 1, 2011. Local
collaborators may modify a plan if the local collaborators determine the modification is
found necessary to better achieve plan goals.
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The commissioner of employment and
economic development must by March 11, 2011, submit a report to the legislature on
the implementation of the plans. The report must include recommendations concerning
financial, system design, and statutory changes that are reasonable and necessary to best
achieve the goals of subdivision 2.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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