Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
Public Act No. 19-129
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MILITARY TO MACH INISTS AND
VETERANS PLATFORM TO EMPLOYMENT PILOT PRO GRAMS
AND PROVIDING OTHER EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE TO
VETERANS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Advanced manufacturing" means a manufacturing process that
makes extensive use of computer, high-precision or information
technologies integrated with a high-performance work force in a
production system capable of furnishing a heterogeneous mix of
products in small or large volumes with either the efficiency of mass
production or the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to
respond quickly to customer demands. "Advanced manufacturing"
includes newly developed methods to manufacture existing products
and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced
technologies;
(2) "Eligible business" means a business that (A) has operations in
Connecticut, (B) has been registered to conduct business for not less
than twelve months, and (C) is in good standing with respect to the
payment of all state and local taxes. "Eligible business" does not
include the state or any political subdivision thereof; Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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(3) "Private occupational school" has the same meaning as provided
in section 10a-22a of the general statutes;
(4) "Public institution of higher education" means any of the
institutions of higher education identified in subdivision (2) of section
10a-1 of the general statutes;
(5) "Qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program" means
a for-credit or noncredit sub-baccalaureate advanced manufacturing
certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education
or a private occupational school in which at least seventy-five per cent
of the graduates of such certificate program are employed in a field
related to or requiring such certificate in the year following
graduation; and
(6) "Veteran" means any person (A) honorably discharged from, or
released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed
forces, as defined in section 27-103 of the general statutes, or (B) with a
qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103 of the general
statutes, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or
dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2019, the work force development
board for the southwest work force development region of the state
shall develop and operate a pilot program to be known as the Military
to Machinists program for veterans. The program shall assist any
veteran in a region served by the pilot program in (1) earning an
advanced manufacturing certificate from a qualifying advanced
manufacturing certificate program, and (2) securing employment in
the field of advanced manufacturing with any eligible business after
such veteran has obtained an advanced manufacturing certificate.
(c) (1) The work force development board for the southwest work
force development region of the state shall designate an appropriate Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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number of employees, as determined by the board, to act as liaisons,
and each liaison shall provide the assistance described in subsection
(b) of this section on behalf of the program.
(2) In connection with providing the assistance described in
subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, each liaison designated
pursuant to this subsection shall also assist a veteran served by the
program to obtain funding for the cost of attending a qualifying
advanced manufacturing certificate program. Such funding may
include, but need not be limited to, (A) tuition waivers under sections
10a-77 and 10a-99 of the general statutes, and (B) expenditures from
the Workforce Training Authority Fund under section 31-11jj of the
general statutes.
(3) In connection with providing the assistance described in
subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, each liaison designated
pursuant to this subsection shall also assist any eligible business to
apply for (A) a grant under section 31-3uu of the general statutes, and
(B) tax credits under section 12-217g of the general statutes, if
applicable.
(d) The work force development board for the southwest work force
development region of the state shall operate the pilot program within
its work force development region. The board may offer the program
in other work force development regions in the state, in conjunction
with the appropriate regional work force development board.
(e) Not later than February 1, 2020, the work force development
board for the southwest work force development region of the state
shall develop or approve promotional materials describing the pilot
program and the various opportunities and benefits that the program
may provide for veterans in the state. The board shall distribute such
materials to qualified veterans' charitable organizations, as described
in subsection (b) of section 27-100f of the general statutes, and Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service Members centers.
The board shall revise and redistribute the materials as the board
deems appropriate.
(f) Not later than February 1, 2020, and annually thereafter until the
pilot program is terminated, the work force development board for the
southwest work force development region of the state shall report on
the operation of the pilot program and its recommendation to
continue, discontinue or expand the program. Such report shall
include measures of the effectiveness of the program, including, but
not be limited to, data on the (1) number of veterans served by the
pilot program; (2) number of veterans pursuing or earning advanced
manufacturing certificates through the program and the type and
amount of funding assistance received by the veterans; and (3) number
of veterans securing employment in the field of advanced
manufacturing with an eligible business through the program, the
salaries earned by such veterans, the number of such veterans
retaining employment in advanced manufacturing over time and the
number and amount of grants and tax credits received by eligible
businesses hiring such veterans. The board shall submit the report, in
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes,
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to veterans' affairs.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) Not later than October 1,
2019, the work force development board for the southwest work force
development region of the state shall develop and operate a pilot
program to be known as the Veterans Platform to Employment
Program. The program shall provide training and subsidized
employment for veterans who have experienced long -term
unemployment in a similar manner to the Platform to Employment
Program currently operated by such board. The pilot program shall
provide veterans in a region served by the program with (1) a Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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preparatory program that includes services such as skills assessments,
career readiness workshops, employee assistance programs and
coaching, and (2) employment assistance that includes identifying
positions at local employers and providing subsidies to employers that
hire veterans for trial work experiences that may lead to continued
employment. The pilot program may offer additional services to assist
veterans, including personal and family support services and financial
counseling. As used in this section, "veteran" means any person (A)
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103 of
the general statutes, or (B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in
section 27-103 of the general statutes, who has received a discharge
other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the
armed forces.
(b) The work force development board for the southwest work force
development region of the state shall operate the pilot program within
its work force development region. The board may offer the program
in other work force development regions in the state, in conjunction
with the appropriate regional work force development board.
(c) Not later than February 1, 2020, and annually thereafter until the
pilot program is terminated, the work force development board for the
southwest work force development region of the state shall submit a
report on the operation of the pilot program and its recommendation
to continue, discontinue or expand the program. Such report shall
include measures of the effectiveness of the program, including, but
not limited to, data on the (1) number of veterans served by the
program, (2) number of veterans placed with employers by the
program and the salaries earned by such veterans, and (3) number of
such veterans retaining employment over time. The board shall submit
the report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to veterans' affairs.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) Not later than October 1, 2019,
the work force development board for the southwest work force
development region of the state shall identify appropriate written
materials to distribute to employers on the topic of mental health
conditions common to veterans, including post-traumatic stress
disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief. Such materials shall
provide guidance on (1) identifying the signs and symptoms of such
mental health conditions, and (2) assisting employees who are veterans
and who exhibit such signs and symptoms in the workplace. The
board shall distribute such materials to employers participating in or
who may participate in the pilot programs established under sections 1
and 2 of this act, and may distribute the materials to other employers
that may hire veterans.
Sec. 4. Section 31-3w of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019):
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Labor
Commissioner, in exercise of any duties including any duties as
administrator under chapter 567, shall, within available resources,
maintain a state-wide network of job centers which provide to
workers, students and employers comprehensive workforce
development assistance, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Unemployment compensation, retraining allowances and other
forms of federal and state income support;
(2) Career, labor market, educational and job training information,
and consumer reports on local training providers;
(3) Career planning and job search assistance;
(4) Applicant recruitment and screening, assessment of training Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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needs, customized job training pursuant to this chapter, apprenticeship
programs pursuant to chapter 557 and related consultative services to
employers based on their employment needs;
(5) Eligibility determinations and referrals to providers of
employment and training services; and
(6) Access to information regarding job openings and, where
appropriate, referral to such openings.
(b) In carrying out responsibilities under this section, the
commissioner shall:
(1) Collaborate with the Connecticut Employment and Training
Commission established pursuant to section 31-3h and the regional
workforce development boards established pursuant to section 31-3k;
(2) Promote coordination of service delivery and collaboration with
other public and private providers of education, human services and
employment and training services, including, but not limited to, adult
education and literacy providers;
(3) Consult with the Commissioner of Economic and Community
Development to ensure coordination of service delivery to employers;
(4) Conduct outreach to employers and trade associations to ensure
that services meet the needs of business and industry; and
(5) Develop a comprehensive job training assistance application for
employer-based training services and programs that allows the
applicant to apply for any such assistance offered by the state in one
application.
(c) (1) When contacted by a veteran who is in need of employment
or work force development services, the department shall (A)
determine whether the veteran resides closer to a work force Substitute Senate Bill No. 968
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development board facility with a veterans unit than to a department
facility offering such employment or work force development
assistance and, if so, provide the veteran with contact information for
the work force development board, and (B) provide a veteran who
expresses an interest in advanced manufacturing, as defined in section
1 of this act, with information on the Military to Machinists program
operated pursuant to section 1 of this act, if such veteran may be
eligible for services from such program.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, "veteran" means any person (A)
honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions
from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or
(B) with a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27-103, who has
received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
active service in the armed forces.